RICK FORD SUCCESSFULLY HEADS DELEGATION TO SECURE
ENDORSEMENT OF US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS
FOR SINGLE PAYER
MEDICARE-FOR-ALL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

 

Through the efforts of District 83 candidate Rick Ford and members of Floridians for Health Care, the U.S. Conference of Mayors Monday adopted a resolution sponsored by West Palm Beach, Florida Mayor, Lois Frankel, endorsing the passage of H.R. 676, The National Health Insurance Act, Michigan Congressman John Conyers' bill which expands and improves the Medicare system to cover everyone in the United States under a single-payer national health insurance system.

 

Mayor Frankel, in association with Floridians for Health Care, Inc., a Palm Beach County based health care advocacy group headed by its President, Rick Ford, local attorney and candidate for Florida State Representative, District 83, and aided by Healthcare-NOW, a national advocacy organization assisting local citizens with their efforts to win endorsements for H.R. 676 from cities, towns, counties and school districts all over the country, have been contacting Mayors for several weeks to educate them about the resolution and seek their support.

 

Ford, along with FFHC Board member and Mayors Project Coordinator, Alison Landes, and Boca Raton dermatologist, Dr. Brent Schillinger, attended the Mayors Conference in Miami this past weekend to present the benefits of how a single payer medicare-for-all system would save cities and towns billions of dollars in employee healthcare costs in these hard economic times .
 
In a Press Release following the endorsement, Congressman John Conyers called the resolution "historic" and applauded its effect on the battle to bring true universal health care to America:

 

"This unanimous endorsement transforms the debate concerning health care reform, a topic high on the agenda of presidential and cong-ressional candidates alike."

 

Rick Ford declared, "the ability to bring forth real change in public policy and advance progressive ideas for Florida is the motivating force for my campaign for Florida State Representative, District 83. "

 

HR 676 would assure universal coverage of all medically necessary services, contain costs by slashing bureaucracy, protect the doctor patient relationship, assure patients a completely free choice of doctors, and allow physicians a free choice of practice settings.

 

Rising healthcare costs have drained local and state budgets of the resources they need to rebuild, renovate and restore the vitality of their communities. Increasing health benefits costs - averaging 11% a year for cities since 1999 - consume city and county budgets, leaving more and more residents uninsured. Currently, 48 million Americans lack health insurance.

 

With state and local coffers bleeding, residents face cuts in needed services such as police and fire protection, medical services for the uninsured, road repairs, parks and recreation. HR 676 would save money and control costs by replacing the multiple public and private payers with a single national health insurance program. The national program would negotiate fees with providers, purchase drugs and medical supplies in bulk, and monitor budgets and capital plans for hospitals and other medical facilities. It minimizes risk by combining the whole US population into one large pool of over 300 million people. It would eliminate private insurance, which eats up 30% of every healthcare dollar in profits, marketing and administration. Medicare operates on less that 5% overhead.

 

Mayor Frankel's resolution was first considered by the Mayors Conference Standing Committee on Children, Health and Human Services.   Ford and his team contacted each committee member to gain their support beforehand.  The Committee  approved the resolution unanimously on Saturday and presented the resolution for adoption by the entire Conference at its plenary session on Monday, June 23, 2008. The measure was adopted unanimously by the full Conference.

 

Dr. David Prensky, retired Palm Beach Dentist, an FFHC Board Member and member of Physicians for a National Health Program, Chicago-based national advocacy group for a single payer system, commented, “Rick Ford’s leadership, dedication and ability to bring about real change in our healthcare system is inspiring.  He will be a positive force for change in Tallahassee.”