Advocates for healthcare reform - Group spotlight

I recently had a chance to sit down with LaPortia McElrath and Kristin Kaffen from Ohio University’s Advocates for Healthcare Reform (AHR). AHR is a relatively new group that began last spring and is seeking to educate the people of Southeastern Ohio on the current problems with the healthcare system in America and to gather signatures for a petition supporting the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act.”

InterActivist: Why exactly is healthcare reform needed?

Laportia McElrath and Kristen Kaffen: The healthcare system in America is run by private insurance companies with little to no regulation. Currently about $11.6 billion per year is wasted on this inefficient private insurance system with a 20-30 percent administrative overhead. It’s an extremely expensive proposition to keep people insured; in fact about 46 percent of personal bankruptcies are related to medical expenses. The prices for insurance have become outrageous; it’s about $400 a month to keep a family of four insured. We’ve actually talked to a physician in The Plains who can’t even afford his own personal healthcare insurance. Here in Ohio, things are especially bad. As of now, 1.3 million Ohioans have no health insurance and millions more live with inadequate coverage.

IA: But I thought America had the best healthcare system in the world, right?

LM & KK: Actually, the World Health Organization ranks the US healthcare system 37th in quality as compared to other countries, according to figures from 1997. Many countries already have a universal healthcare system in place. We’re seriously beginning to lag behind the rest of the world in terms of healthcare; even Botswana has its own universal healthcare system. Every year Americans spend nearly twice as much per person on healthcare as any other country, and we get less for it because most of that money is going to private insurance providers.

IA: OK, so private healthcare insurance is obviously not working very well, but what are our other options?

LM & KK: We’re advocating a universal system of healthcare known as the Single-Payer system. Basically, it entails the creation of a non-profit governmental agency, which is responsible for one fund that would make payments for all medical services. We are working in conjunction with SPAN-Ohio (Single-Payer Action Network) to collect petitions to get the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act” put into action in order to create a Single-Payer system here in Ohio.

IA: What are the key points of the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act?”

LM & KK: If it became a law, it would provide coverage for the full range of inpatient and outpatient hospital care, preventive care, mental health, vision, hearing, prescription drugs, dental, and all other necessary medical services as determined by any state licensed, certified, or registered health care practitioner. It would provide coverage regardless of income or employment status. It would even go so far as to reimburse workers at insurance companies, who might lose their jobs as a result of the changes brought about by the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act.”

IA: So what is Advocates for Healthcare Reform doing to help make universal healthcare a reality?

LM & KK: Right now we’re working to educate the community about the great need for a single-payer system. There are a lot of myths associated with universal healthcare; it’s not the same as socialized medicine. Under a universal system people still have a choice as to which doctor they see and when. You can still receive the same amount of care from your own personal doctor. We’re also collecting petitions to try and get the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act” put directly on the ballot, so Ohio voters can vote on whether or not to make it a law.

IA: Is either gubernatorial candidate this year pushing for any kind of similar reform?

LM & KK: Not exactly. Blackwell is pushing for a “universal insurance plan,” which still leaves room for insurance companies to act as the middle man in healthcare. Strickland is trying to push for more federal grants, but he’s basically advocating Medicare under a different name. That’s why it’s so important that we collect enough signatures for a petition to get the “Health Care for All Ohioans Act” put directly on the ballot in the next election.

IA: How can people living in the Athens area help?

LM & KK: We are always looking for volunteers to help us in our campaigns, to create awareness and educate people about the need for healthcare reforms. We are also canvassing Southeast Ohio to collect signatures for the petition. Advocates for Healthcare Reform is responsible for getting signatures from Hocking, Athens, and Vinton counties. Remember, healthcare shouldn’t be a privilege that we pay for. We all have a basic right to healthcare.

It was a pleasure talking to these two women who are very passionate on the subject. It’s important to remember that the need for healthcare affects everyone. For more information, contact AHR at advhealth@ohio.edu or check out their website at www.ohiou.edu/advhealth. AHR also hosts meetings every Monday night at 8 p.m. in Grover Hall Room W113. •

Mike Lottes is the managing editor of The InterActivist.