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Health Care Task-Force Educates, Advocates and Legislates |
Photo: © Marty Luster
by Rebecca Elgie and Bernie Fetterly
"Health care is a right for every individual and should not be treated as a commodity," according to advocates of health care for all from from The Tompkins County Health Care Task-Force. The group formed three years ago to push for a universal, affordable health care plan in the United States. It endorses a single-payer health plan such as "Medi-Care for All" which would cover all necessary care for every U.S. resident.
The United States is the only industrialized nation without a universal health care system and has 45 million people who are uninsured and millions more who are underinsured. The US pays twice as much as other countries per person for health care and yet is not able to cover everyone. In many cases, the quality of care is inferior.
The U.S. health care system is a for-profit system. It is based on how much an individual can pay and not on medical need. As a market-driven system it competes not by increasing the quality or lowering costs but by avoiding the sick by refusing service. It also generates huge administrative costs which divert resources from the care of the sick.
As an advocacy group, the goal of the Task-Force is to work for those who are often disenfranchised by helping them find resources for health care locally. There is also outreach to senior citizens to advocate for programs and changes in current policies.
The group supports two bills in Congress that will establish a national health care plan. At the state level it seeks and supports political candidates who advocate for health care reform.
More Information
Contact: Tompkins County Health Care Task-Force
Address: 115 The Commons, (above Autumn Leaves Used Books)
Ithaca, NY 14850
Website: www.ushealthcarereform.com
"Health care is a right for every individual and should not be treated as a commodity," according to advocates of health care for all from from The Tompkins County Health Care Task-Force. The group formed three years ago to push for a universal, affordable health care plan in the United States. It endorses a single-payer health plan such as "Medi-Care for All" which would cover all necessary care for every U.S. resident.
The United States is the only industrialized nation without a universal health care system and has 45 million people who are uninsured and millions more who are underinsured. The US pays twice as much as other countries per person for health care and yet is not able to cover everyone. In many cases, the quality of care is inferior.
The U.S. health care system is a for-profit system. It is based on how much an individual can pay and not on medical need. As a market-driven system it competes not by increasing the quality or lowering costs but by avoiding the sick by refusing service. It also generates huge administrative costs which divert resources from the care of the sick.
As an advocacy group, the goal of the Task-Force is to work for those who are often disenfranchised by helping them find resources for health care locally. There is also outreach to senior citizens to advocate for programs and changes in current policies.
The group supports two bills in Congress that will establish a national health care plan. At the state level it seeks and supports political candidates who advocate for health care reform.
More Information
Contact: Tompkins County Health Care Task-Force
Address: 115 The Commons, (above Autumn Leaves Used Books)
Ithaca, NY 14850
Website: www.ushealthcarereform.com
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