Kate Loving Shenk

I decided to post some of our recent Single Payer activities over on the California Nurses
site. It took some time to gain clearance, but it’s worth it.

I want people to know about HB 1660 and SB 300 here in Pennsylvania. And I want the
Single Payer Community across America to reach out to one another.

Here’s my first blog post!!

http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org/blog/kate-loving-shenk/2008/10/03/single-payer-good-for-the-health-of-america

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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People without health insurance go to the ED–Often when
it is too late

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As a result of my involvement with the passage of HB 1660 here
in Pennsylvania, I have learned many things.

The burden that the health insurance companies place on employers
is one of them.

The fact that in five years, if Single Payer is not enacted, employees
will have to foot the bill for their own health care coverage, is another.

At last weeks Single Payer, Guaranteed Health Care For All Forum,
Alan Jacobs, President of Isaac’s Deli, Inc here in the Lancaster, PA
area, gave all of us an idea of what it is like for him
and other business owners to insure their employees.

Here is the transcript of his talk:

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I am Alan Jacobs, President of Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli.
We are a local employer with 20 restaurants and about about
650 employees. We have about 200 people on our health plan.

As a business person, I could talk about the economic advantages
of a single payer system, but that’s not my elevator speech
about healthcare.

Here it is.

At Isaac’s, we play the insurance game quite well. We offer
health insurance for anyone working 25 hours a week, and that’s
helped us to retain a very loyal workforce.

So I’m an employer being successful in the current system, but
I think the system stinks.

The way I see it, I am the ultimate health insurance consumer in
our system. I buy insurance every year, and the insurance companies
work hard to give me a product that I can afford and will buy. They
try to keep my premiums low, which they do by trying to avoid
paying medical bills. (It’s like auto insurance: if you wreck your
car, your rates go up).

So their job is to deny and delay paying medical bills as much as possible,
which they think they are doing on my behalf, because they are keeping
my rates low.

As a business, I buy several kinds of insurance – Medical, liability,
workers comp, and auto. Each one of those insurances has a medical
component, and each one wants to keep my cost low by not paying claims.
Sometimes the companies fight with each other to get the other to take
on the cost. They each think they are doing me a favor, but I foot
the bill for their dispute, and in the meantime, my employee can’t get
claims paid.

From a health care perspective, it sure seems like the incentives are
upside down.
__

This is not a partisan issue, but when I heard John McCain say he doesn’t
want any bureaucrat making decisions about our health care, I’m afraid
he’s a little late to the game.

Your employer – me – is bureaucrat #1. Every year, I make decisions for
my employees about how much their out of pocket expenses will be, and how
much their deductible will be, and what we will or won’t pay for.

Every couple of years when we change plans we give our employees a new
lists of doctors that are on our plan. If they are lucky, their doctor
is on our list.

If not, too bad.

We also review drug use, and each year we give our employees something
called a formulary. That’s a list of drugs that we will pay for. If their
drug is on the list, they’re lucky.

If not, too bad.

My insurance company is bureaucrat # 2. They delay payments, deny payments,
and get my employees all tangled up in paperwork so they can avoid payments
in a particular year. If my insurance company can find a loophole so they don’t
need to pay a claim, that’s good for them, and they think that’s good for me.

They are selling me a product, and they are trying to keep it affordable.

This might be all be well and good if the so called free market system was
actually working to keep costs down. However, on a global scale, we as a country
spend twice as much per person on healthcare, and our health outcomes are
actually worse. If I had an employee who came to me with the results of his
brilliant cost savings plan, and his conclusion was that it’s costing twice
what our competitors pay, and it’s making it difficult for us to provide goods
and services to our customers, but his conclusion is that we need to keep at
it because it’s the only plan that will work; I would tell him to hit the trail.

But I probably wouldn’t fire him outright, maybe just demote him, because,
he has a family, and he gets his health coverage from us.

Which brings me to my final point. When an employee gets sick and misses work,
they go through the drawn out process of losing their job because they can’t
work because they are sick, and they eventually lose their eligibility and
loose their coverage.

This is a horrible occurrence.

When a person needs insurance the most, they lose it. This is the final brutality
caused by linking health care to employment.

So that’s why I’m here tonight, lending my voice to this movement.

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I presently am listening to the first debate between Barak Obama and John
McCain.

Even as I ignore the smirk on McCain’s face, I know that McCain’s health
care plan is: Just Don’t Get Sick.

As the Reverend Sandra Straus emphasized in her talk last week, a true Christian
would be taking care of everyone.

And people like John McCain and his running mate pose as Christians but the
question is: Who are they, really?

Do they know who Jesus was/is? He was a real rebel, one of the first Community
Organizers, a man whose ministry was one of love, compassion and non-violence.

A true Christian would never go to war and would love their enemies.

And would uphold the right of healthcare to all of her citizens.

-=-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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What Would Jesus Do?

The Reverend Sandra L. Straus spoke at our Single Payer, Guaranteed
Healthcare For All Forum one week ago.

I’ve heard her speak several times and we have worked together
on several Single Payer functions over the last few years.

She gave me the copy of her speech and I wish to share it, because
the question arises in my mind: What would Jesus do?

The United States proclaims itself to be a Christian Nation, at least
among the Republican crowd, of note the Christian Right.

Yet they vehemently oppose health care for all the American people.
In fact, they seem to care less if people are suffering.

So here is a transcript of her speech to us and it gave me a feeling
of the Christ that really wants all of us to be cared for and loved.

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“I begin by sharing a few words from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most
shocking and inhumane.”

“Sadly, it seems that not only have inequalities continued, they
appear to be growing worse.

“A colleague in another state asked his constituents the following question:
What does it mean for us, as members of Christ’s body in the world, to
carry on Jesus’ work of bringing hope and healing to all?

“As this question suggests, health care is very much an issue for the
faith community.  As Protestant Christians—the constituency I represent—our
concerns are shaped by the biblical principles of stewardship and justice.

“It seems that our nation’s economic and political institutions, by and large,
have not been good stewards of the resources that our society allocates
to health care. We fail to be good stewards of our nation’s health care
resources when Americans spend two to three times as much per person as
other industrialized countries—and our overall health outcomes are worse!

“In addition, disparities in health care coverage raise serious questions
about the overall justice of our present system. All persons are precious
in the eyes of God.  No person’s well-being can be reduced to a price and
bought and sold without moral and ethical considerations.  Persons are more
than “consumers” of the goods and services produced by the health care system:
all are entitled to care, respect, and compassion, regardless of their state
of health, their medical history, their personal circumstances, or their
ability to pay.

“As Christians, we believe that all creation is sacred, precious and worthy of
being safeguarded.  We believe that we are called to pursue justice and to
practice love and compassion.  We believe that we have a responsibility for
stewardship, especially for stewardship of those resources that protect the
well-being of human lives.

“Finally, we believe that we are called to action to advocate and work for the
well-being of poor and marginalized persons, as summed up by these words from
the prophet Isaiah:  “…seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.”

“Orphans and widows were considered the most vulnerable members of the society
of Isaiah’s time—and at the time of Jesus.  This includes advocating for
access to comprehensive and affordable health care for ALL persons, access
not based solely on wealth, population, or other arbitrary determinant.

“Health care coverage must be for everyone. The religious conscience will accept
nothing less.

“The Pennsylvania Council of Churches has chosen to support the only proposal that
addresses both of these concerns for Pennsylvania—the Family and Business Health
Security Act, which would provide for a publicly administered system that covers
all Pennsylvanians, but also maintains individual choice of comprehensive, privately
delivered health care.

“In closing, I want to remind all of you here that Jesus was a healer—and healing
was one of the most important aspects of Jesus’ ministry.  The gospels are replete
with stories of Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, restoring sight to the
blind and hearing to the deaf, and making lame persons walk.  He cared deeply for
the spiritual welfare of all as well.  He empowered others “to proclaim the kingdom
of God and to heal” (Luke 9:2).  He never refused to heal someone because they
could not pay, and obviously preexisting conditions were his specialty.

“It seems to me that Jesus would provide for the health and well-being of all persons.

“While I can’t claim that Jesus would endorse this legislation, I suspect that
he would be happy to know that we are working, as he did, to provide health and
healing for everyone…because I doubt that he would settle for anything less.”

The Reverend Sandra L. Straus

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Another point in this talk that struck me profoundly was that Jesus was a healer.
Nurses can learn from this Healer among healers and realize that our mission
as health care workers is to to bring comfort to the sick. The art of touch,
a soothing voice, gentle and silent movements all contribute to a peaceful
outcome.

And Single Payer would bring to us patients who are healthier and happier;
people who come to the hospital and doctor sooner for health care intervention.

This would be a dream come true for our profession.

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Our Health Care forum last week was everything any of us who organized it could have hoped for.

Read about it here:

http://nursehealers.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/single-payer-good-for-the-health-of-america.html

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Sign Up For My **Free** Bi-weekly Newsletter
about Healing!!

As I sit here and write this, I am loving the sound of crickets.

I am on call for work–and have not yet been called in.

I helped organize a wonderful forum last week on a House Bill that would enable every Pennsylvanian to have Health Coverage, a Medicare For All model.

The mayor showed up and said if we can prove to him how we can save our town and every town in the Commonwealth millions of dollars on Health Care Coverage, then he will work for passage of the bill and invite every mayor in the state to help.

This is very good news folks, because when we do it, then your state will want to have what we have.

I just have to write up what went on to the forum and post it all over the internet, eg FB, Twitter, Blogs and my article submission service, because the press ignored our event.

Why??

You be the judge of that, but all the mayors gathering together will make the news media pay very close attention.

Of that I have no doubt.

Have a peaceful evening–

Kate Loving Shenk

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Sign Up For My **Free** Bi-weekly Newsletter
about Healing!!

Please join us on September 18, 2008 for our Single Payer Health Care forum.

Donna Smith will be one of the forum participants, and here she is discussing how Michael Moore chose her to be in the movie SiCKO!!

http://nursehealers.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/09/donna-smith-and-sicko-and-our-single-payer-health-care-forum.html

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Sign Up For My **Free** Bi-weekly Newsletter
about Healing!!

Barak Obama came to town today so I took the opportunity to hand out hand written
cards about our Health Care Forum specifically about HB 1660 and the fact that
Pennsylvania could be the first in the nation to pass such a bill.

California just passed a Single Payer bill but Arnold takes a great risk if he vetoes it.
The California Nurses will raise hell if he does and he’s up for re-election in January.

There were hundreds and hundreds of people there. I had to call my friend Jerry
Policoff to come and help even though he had other plans today. He whipped up
professional cards and at the end of the event, we got to talk to many, many people.

People just don’t know about this bill here in Pennsylvania because the media ignores it.
The newspapers ignore it. Ed Rendall, our illustrious Governor, sabotages it. But we plunge ahead,
and know that every step brings us closer to passage.

And an Obama administration would be more sympathetic to our efforts.

John McCain’s health care plan is: Don’t Get Sick.

I was happy to meet Dr. Holmes Morton today, who specializes in little known genetic
disorders in the Amish Community.

It is my dearest hope that the Amish would understand how our bill would
help them because so often, when a catatrophic illness or emergency occurs,
they are wiped out.

But then again, so are many other ordinary Americans.

The movie SiCKO has moved public perception along regarding Single Payer
here in U.S.

Donna Smith of SiCKO fame will be on our health care forum panel.
When I told people this in the crowd today, they became very interested.

I have to say she is going to be quite the celebrity at this event.

I can hardly wait to meet her!!

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Sign Up For My **Free** Bi-weekly Newsletter
about Healing!!

A witness tree at Devil’s Den presides over the Gettysburg battlefield. There is no official number of remaining trees that stood when cannon and rifle fire erupted in July 1863. Only parts of the battlefield have been surveyed by experts who can identify a 145-year-old tree, and few photographs show trees still standing. There are perhaps a dozen trees alive today that witnessed the day the Civil War came to Gettysburg. (Evening Sun Photo by James Robinson)

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The fight is on to bring a single payer health care delivery system
to Pennsylvania in the form of HB 1660 and SB 300.

Three of us went to the State Capitol bulding in Harrisburg, PA
yesterday to deliver invitations to legislatures for our “Guaranteed
Health Care For All” forum September 18, 2008 at Franklin and Marshall
College.

Jerry and Don took care of House members in 2/3rds of the Capitol and
I delivered the invitations to what is called the Ryan Building and the Main Capitol.

And I got lost.

But there isn’t a more beautiful or interesting place in the world in which to
get lost!

The marble stair wells with brass decorations on the handrails; glass chandeliers,
paintings and portraits as far as my eyes could see, distracted me from the task at hand.

One room that dazzled my mind housed a larger than life statue of Abraham
Lincoln. Behind him was the largest painting I ever saw, which was the
Gettysburg Battlefield at the height of one of the worst wars in the history
of wars, when young men were slaughtered by the thousands.

This painting seemed to capture the horror of the reality of this war, with cannon
fire, and smoke from all the fired weapons and faces of anguish in the throes of
death.

Frankly, I never saw anything like it, and the room was totally empty.

I trust the battle for single payer will go smoother than the Battle of Gettysburg.

Certainly smoother than the denied claims by the Health Insurance Companies which
have demonstrated time and time again that they care nothing for the average American.

Our September forum will plant the seeds for the eventual passage of this bill.

Please see Progressives For Pennsylvania for details.

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Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the creator
of the e-book called “Transform Your Nursing Career and Discover
Your Calling and Destiny.” The book is designed to stimulate
nurses to love their work and to prevent on-the-job-burnout.
Click here to find out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com
http://www.katelovingshenk.com/blog
Check out Kate’s Blog: http://nursehealers.typepad.com
And the Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/katelovingshenk
http://www.squidoo.com/thinkriches
http://doganddolphin.ning.com
http://nursehealers.typepad.com/dog_lovers_unite
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Sign Up For My **Free** Bi-weekly Newsletter
about Healing!!