KEYNOTE SPEECH: KUEHL ON SB 840
State Senator Sheila Kuehl--from District 23, Los Angeles and Ventura County--began her Keynote Convention speech to the delegates with a cautionary tale about "babies in the river," the core of which was don't just rescue the babies, go find out where they are all coming from! She clearly believes that if something is not right, change the system. And what the Senator believes is not working right is the delivery of health care to the people of California. Her proposed change is SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act.
SB 840 would create a single-payer health insurance system for all California residents, 30% of whom are now uninsured. Of the more than six million uninsured, 80% are employed. The LWVC supports the bill, as do small businesses and Kaiser Permanente among others. Opponents include the State Chamber of Commerce and pharmaceutical companies.
The bill would establish one nonprofit insurance plan to reduce administration costs (5% cap); provide reliable, quality coverage for all Californians for life; allow Californians to choose their own personal primary care provider; and allow health care providers to prescribe medical care based on accepted standards of care and practice, not the bottom line. Best of all, in the first year alone the model is estimated to save $8 billion in healthcare spending.
Senator Kuehl urged continuing support and advocacy on behalf of SB 840. The governor, she said, needs to see many people pushing for a change. She praised League members for their efforts on health care reform in general and on SB 840 in particular. Upbeat and optimistic, the Senator exuded confidence that the victory will be ours.
--LWVC Convention Newsletter "About Saturday"
