Zelda's Single Payor Legend

TRI-PAC Health and Wellness Advocacy vociferously opposes the reintroduction of SB 840 (Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, aka Zelda Gilroy).

In 2004, TRI-PAC leadership met with Deputies from the Office of Senator Sheila Kuehl and their “consultants” to inform and educate them, as well as to express objections and call for amendments. Unfortunately, our discussions fell on deaf ears.

Last legislative session, on request and recommendation of TRI-PAC, the Governor responded favorably and vetoed the bill (SB 840).

The education and teaching community have done a great disservice to their students, parents, to their profession, and should be ashamed of themselves for supporting and advocating passage of such misinformed and misguided policy and legislation which is not in the best interest of children, families, current and future generations of Californians.

Single payer health care is a system where government pays for all health care costs usually from taxes. Private hospitals and physician practices may remain private. Single payor is distinct from socialized medicine; hospitals are run by the government and medical professionals are employed by the government.

In 1975 my mother and I went to visit relatives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. My Dad (now deceased) was an ophthalmologist who stayed behind to tend to his patients. I went swimming in Lake Winnipeg. I got stung in the eye by a mosquito. I could not be seen nor could I get a prescription. There was a fee dispute between the physicians and the Manitoba Provincial Government. The system came to a grinding halt. There was a physician classmate of my Dad on site. He stood firm with his colleagues in "solidarity" and would not see me. I returned from our visit to Winnipeg with the stinger in my eye as a Canadian "souvenir".

In the ensuing 30 years, there have been no material improvements to the Canadian system—people still have to wait for elective surgery, CAT Scan, MRI, and other ancillary service that we take for granted.

Now, that the health care proposals by the Senate President Pro-Tempore, the Assembly Speaker, the Governor, and Senator Kuehl (which was heard separately) begin their way through the legislative process.

I have been informed that all these bills will be negotiated and combined into a single bill for passage by both the Assembly and the Senate and forwarded to the Governor for signature.

SB 840 is a "legend" in the minds of misguided politicians.

Its intent is not doable.

It will not cover the uninsured.

Robert Donin,
President, TRI-PAC Health and Wellness Advocacy
11693 San Vicente Boulevard, #346
Los Angeles, CA. 90049
robertdonin@yahoo.com