Physicians for a National Health Program

Help Protect Rep. Kucinich's Amendment for Single Payer

Use the form below to automatically send a letter to your representative urging them to protect Rep. Kucinich's single-payer amendment to H.R 3200. We have sample text already in place, but feel free to modify it (e.g. by adding some details of your own experience or locale). After you have entered in your address information (so we know which representative to send your letter to), just click "Send My Message."

May 24, 2013

Subject:

Dear Representative,

I write to urge your support for Rep. Dennis Kucinich's single-payer amendment to H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act.  This amendment would allow individual states to adopt single-payer health care systems should they choose to do so. To this end, the amendment would waive provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that might obstruct such action.

The Kucinich amendment passed out of the Committee of Education and Labor on July 17 in a bipartisan vote of 27 to 19.

This amendment is being threatened by insurance company and Big Pharma lobbyists. I urge you to stand strong and protect a state's right to choose a single-payer health financing system. Please help ensure it remains part of any health reform legislation passed in this session of Congress.

Single-payer systems are characterized by truly universal, comprehensive and high-quality care; free choice of doctor and hospital; no out-of-pocket expenses; the elimination of wasteful administrative costs; and the ability to control costs through measures like bulk purchasing.

Many states already have strong single-payer bills in their legislatures, including California, Colorado, New Mexico, New York and Pennsylvania.  These states could more easily implement a single-payer system were the Kucinich amendment to be enacted into law.

While I recognize the political imperative to pass health care reform, it is important to remember that the purpose of reform is to ease the burden for all Americans. Please let states decide how their health care system can provide quality care for all by supporting the Kucinich amendment.

We will add your signature from the information you provide.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Street*

Street 2

City*

State/Province*

Zip/Postal Code*