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Doctors, nurses, activists support single-payer health care like “New York Health”

“A single payer system is the only reform that will actually address the enormous cost of redundant administrative requirements by providing one uniform public plan offering the same level of quality care for all New Yorkers.  It also includes a collective bargaining component to empower physicians to better advocate for patient safeguards and ensure that there is deference to clinical decision making by physicians.”  –Vito Grasso, Executive Vice President of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians

“New York healthcare costs are fifth-highest in the country, but our outcomes are near the bottom.  We spend too much money on administrative functions and care for catastrophic conditions, much of which could be treated earlier with routine disease management.  We support New York Health because our dollars should be spent on health care, not multiple, inefficient, inadequate insurance plans.”  –Lisa Blodgett, RN, New York State Nurses Association
 
“With single payer, New York manufacturing would be more competitive with the western European countries and Canada that have had universal health care for decades.  Single payer would be a big boost for unleashing creativity and entrepreneurship by permitting bright young students to start their own businesses without having to choose work in particular industries simply for health insurance.”  –Wayne Bayer, Public Employees Federation Executive Board Member and Delegate to the Albany and Troy Labor Councils

“Right now, five New Yorkers die every day due to lack of health care, and many go bankrupt from medical bills. That is unacceptable and inhumane. A universal, publicly financed health care system would save lives AND money. It’s a win-win situation for patients, physicians, and our economy.” –Laurie Wen, Executive Director, Physicians for a National Health Program – NY Metro

“High health care bills are one of the main reasons that 3 million New Yorkers have to use emergency food programs annually. Unfortunately, the new Federal health insurance mandate will still leave many New Yorkers without access to affordable, quality care.  We need a state single payer health care bill to make sure everyone is covered.”  –Mark Dunlea, co-founder of Single Payer New York and Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of New York State
 
“What physicians want, above all, is to provide all our patients regardless of their insurance with the health care we and they think they need.  Please, New York State legislators, adopt this bill and allow us to take care of our patients rather than their insurance companies.”  –Dr. Paul Sorum, former Chair of the Capital District chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program