MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Rep. Mary Bland beat the same drum Tuesday that she's been beating for more than a decade.
Bland, D-Kansas City, presented her 1997 proposal for enacting universal care as Missouri's form of health care.
"This legislation has been around for awhile, and it probably will be around for awhile," Bland told the House Health and Public Safety Committee, which she chairs. "But each year it gets better."
She said that, given population growth, universal health care will be the system of the future.
"I believe every Missourian deserves quality health care. It doesn't matter their status," Bland said on why she is sponsoring another universal care bill given the history of defeat. "I'm very optimistic about the growing numbers of those who see what universal health care can do."
Bland's bill would eliminate the current health care payment system and move to one where the medical expenses of all state residents would be covered. The system would be funded by tax increases on businesses and individuals.
Businesses would pay a premium related to the number of people they employ while individuals would pay through an income tax increase.
Bland brought an army of witnesses from various backgrounds to testify to the committee.
"The goal of universal health care is to reduce the amount that businesses pay for health-related expenses," said Pat Harvey, director of Missouri Citizen Action - a consumer advocacy group. "It's expected that a majority would realize an improvement."
Columbia resident Joe Alder spoke from the viewpoint of a citizen who feels he would benefit from a universal care system. Shortly after Alder dropped his insurance coverage he was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes.
"I'll probably be paying off my medical bills for the rest of my life unless I get lucky and win the lottery or something," Alder said.
As it has happened in past years, the package of tax hikes has triggered opposition from the state's biggest business organizations.
Opponents of the measure contend that there is too much uncertainty associated with universal health care in this country because it is yet untested.
"If this approach was regarded as an effective approach ... why are not states in large numbers going to the Canadian system, to the single payer system?" asked Chris Long, a lobbyist for Associated Industries, one of the state's major business organizations.
Dan Meehan, with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, questioned the costs associated with a new health care system.
"We don't want to step out on a limb on this and risk our health care delivery," he said.
However, Bland and Harvey argue money would be saved with a universal care system largely because of a more streamlined administrative process.