Syracuse, NY -- Howie Hawkins, the Green Party nominee for US Senate, pledged today to introduce in the US Senate a companion bill to the HR 676, which would establish a single-payer health care system in the US.

The week of June 7th is a national week of action in support of HR 676 organized by Healthcare-NOW!: http://www.healthcare-now.org

Hawkins' opponent, Hillary Clinton, opposed a single payer program when she was in charge of crafting a national health care program in 1993. At that time, Clinton proposed a policy based on private health insurance supported by a complex system of government mandates and subsidies to ensure consumers bought private coverage. This year she has praised a similar system of compulsory private health insurance adopted in Massachusetts.

"Clinton is beholden to special interests like insurance companies. It was Hillary Clinton's unwillingness to oppose the private health insurance industry that derailed the movement for national health insurance in 1993, when it had some 100 congressional co-sponsors and more than two-thirds public support in the public opinion polls. Instead, she promoted so-called managed competition, which channeled even more money to the health insurance companies. Her legacy is the rise of Health Maintenance Organizations in our country, where cost accountants and insurance clerks instead of doctors and patients determine medical care," stated Hawkins.

"Clinton's mismanagement of health care policy in 1993 led us to where we are today: annual family premiums averaging $9,068 this year; 49 million Americans uninsured at any given time, 75 million Americans uninsured for some period during the year, and another 50 million under-insured," added Hawkins.

The US spends more per capita (15.5% of GDP) on health care than any other country amd almost double the next highest country. The World Health Organization rates the US health care system 37th in the world in overall performance.

HR 676, introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), would establish an American-style national health insurance program. The bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care program that expands the existing Medicare program to cover all U.S. residents and improves its cost control and consumer choice features. The legislation would ensure that all Americans are guaranteed coverage by law. All Americans would have access to the highest quality health care services regardless of employment, income, or health care status.

Physicians for a National Health Program estimates that the US would save over $286 billion annually on overall health care expenditures under a Medicare For All plan while extending coverage to all. Under HR 676, the average costs to employers for an employee making $30,000 per year will be reduced to $1,155 per year; less than $100 per month.

HR 676 would cover all medically-necessary services, including primary care, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients would have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices. HR 676 would convert the health care financing system to a nonprofit system.

The Medicare for All program would annually set reimbursement rates for physicians, health care providers, and negotiate prescription drug prices. The national office would provide an annual lump sum allotment to each existing Medicare region, which would then administer the program in each region. Payment to health care providers would be on a fee for service basis. Hospitals and other health care institutions would receive funding for global budgets administered at each site, rather than micromanaged from a central bureaucracy. Doctors will be paid based on their current reimbursement rates.

"The US has the most inefficient and irrational system of health care financing in the world. It spends far more money than any other country, yet leaves tens of millions of Americans without access. A Medicare for All program would rationalize health care financing to cover everyone and still cut overall health care costs. The only thing standing in the way is the private health insurance companies and the politicians they buy with campaign contributions, like Hillary Clinton," declared Hawkins.