The Definitive Breakdown of U.S. Health Care Myths and Facts

By Christine Cupaiuolo — October 28, 2009

Those of you who are engaged in conversations with opponents to a public health insurance option might want to try pulling them away from Fox News for a moment and ask them to read Ellen Shaffer’s new piece, “U.S Health Care: Myths and Facts.”

Schaffer is co-director of the Center for Policy Analysis, which runs the EQUAL Health listserv (Equitable, Quality, Universal, Affordable Health). List members contributed to this comprehensive document, which answers such questions as:

  • Who’s More Efficient, Government or the Private Insurance Market?
  • Are We Spending Too Much on Health Care?
  • Do We Pay Too Much for Drugs?
  • Could Importing Drugs Reduce Prices?
  • Can Prevention Programs Reduce Health Care Costs?
  • Is Health Information Technology a Silver Bullet for Reducing Costs?
  • Are there really 46 Million Americans Who Can’t Get Health Care?
  • Can Universal Coverage Be Achieved by Mandating Everyone to Buy Insurance?
  • Do We Need More Government Programs to Cover Low-Income People?

Action Items:

– If you or your friends live in states where Democrats (or pretend-Democrats) are hesitating over the public option, call or write your elected officials and urge support.

– Starting Oct. 28 and running at least through Nov. 4, Healthcare-NOW is organizing Patients Not Profit Sit-Ins.

– Raising Women’s Voices has coverage of a teach-in on health reform held at Columbia University on Oct. 22. Sponsored by the Student Committee of the Public Health Association of NYC and the Black and Latino Caucus of the Mailman School of Public Health, the event drew nearly 60 students, faculty and members of the community.

If you want to sponsor a teach-in on a college campus, contact RWV: info [at] raisingwomensvoices [dot] org for sample materials and programs.

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