Shame on You, Landrieu: Senator Opposes Public Health Plan

The Associated Press reports that several Democratic Senators might vote against any proposed healthcare measure that contains a public plan. The article quotes Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who says that she is "not for a government-run, national, taxpayer-subsidized plan, and never will be."

I respect ideological independence, and I acknowledge and am comfortable with the fact that many Democrats are moderates. Landrieu's position, however, does not reflect intellectual consistency or honesty.

Louisiana: Abundance of Poverty, Scarcity of Health Care
Among the 50 states, Louisiana has the second highest percentage of people living in poverty. Landrieu's position on government-sponsored healthcare does not respond to the needs of poor individuals who live in her state.

Because of the high rate of poverty in Louisiana, many residents of the state already receive healthcare through a "government-run, national, taxpayer-subsidized plan" -- which Landrieu supposedly opposes. Despite this taxpayer-sponsored coverage, many of the state's residents remain uninsured and unhealthy.

Louisiana Ranks as Nation's Least Healthy State
According to the 2008 America's Health Rankings survey -- an annual report issued by the United Health Foundation -- Louisiana ranks as the nation's least healthy state. The report considers many individual and community statistics.

As for specific health categories, Louisiana ranks 49 in infant mortality, cancer deaths, and premature deaths; 48 in preventable hospitalizations; 47 in prevalence of obesity; 45 in cardiovascular deaths; and 41 in smoking

27% of Louisianan Residents Enrolled in Medicaid
According to the most recent data reported by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LDHH), a whopping 27% of state residents are enrolled in Medicaid. Medicaid is a government-run, national, taxpayer-sponsored health plan for indigent people.

21% of Louisiana Adults Are Uninsured
According to the most recent data reported by the LDHH, 21% of Louisiana's non-elderly adults lack health insurance. This exceeds the national rate of 16%.

The high cost of insurance precludes most of the state's uninsured individuals from purchasing coverage. Landrieu's opposition to a public plan is shocking in light of this group's unmet medical needs.

Per Patient Medicare Expenditure Highest in Louisiana
Although Landrieu despises government-run healthcare, per patient Medicare expenditures in Louisiana rank higher than in any other state. Unfortunately, the state also has the lowest quality outcomes for Medicare patients.

Children's Health Insurance Rate Has Increased -- Due to Government-Run Health Insurance
Only one bright spot appears in Louisiana's health statistics. The percentage of uninsured children has fallen dramatically over the last decade. The rate has decreased for one reason alone: the federal government created and expanded participation in SCHIP -- the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

A 10-year analysis of Louisiana's uninsured population by the LDHH makes the following conclusion: "The child uninsured rate decreased 12.9 percentage points from 1998 to 2007. This large reduction in the rate of uninsured children is attributable to the introduction of [Louisiana's SCHIP plan] and its rapid expansion." SCHIP -- which is undeniably a government-run, taxpayer sponsored health plan -- has provided necessary medical services to tens of thousands of children in the State of Louisiana.

It is also worth noting that, while Landrieu was not a Senator in 1997 when Congress enacted SCHIP, when the program came up for reauthorization in 2007, she voted in favor of the legislation. Bush vetoed this measure and a second one that Congress passed. In 2009, however, Congress again passed legislation to extend and expand SCHIP. Landrieu voted for that measure, which Obama signed into law.

What Is Going On With Landrieu?
Landrieu is clearly playing politics. She is taking a position that is ultimately unhelpful for many people in her state because Louisiana conservatives (many of whom apparently vote against interest) could cause her to lose her job if she votes for a public plan. The "reading" public, however, should not allow Landrieu to place her career above the indigent residents of her state without exposing the terms of her gamble. Consider this as notice.

The Onion Outshines the Media Again With Story on Health Insurance

In today's era of corporate journalism, comedy outlets often provide serious analysis of current events, while mainstream media sources supply laughter (perhaps to hide the emptiness). Although Jon Stewart gets most of the kudos in this bizarre inversion, The Onion is far superior in my opinion.

Today, The Onion comments on the impact of rising healthcare costs and the lack of insurance on "average" Americans. I have previously argued that the current discourse has failed to analyze the problems related to a lack of insurance. By contrast, during the presidential campaigns, this issue occupied center stage and captured the attention and empathy of many voters. The Onion attempts to fill the void with this story: Man Succumbs To 7-Year Battle With Health Insurance.

Here's a snip:

After years of battling crippling premiums and agonizing deductibles, local resident Michael Haige finally succumbed this week to the health insurance policy that had ravaged his adult life. . . .

Once a healthy and happy father of two, Haige saw his life forever change seven years ago when health insurance professionals diagnosed him with a preexisting condition. As months passed and his line of credit continued to deteriorate, the former high school football coach would experience excruciating headaches and bouts of nausea every time another hospital bill arrived. . . .

According to an independent study released last month by the Mayo Clinic, health insurance is the nation's No. 2 cause of death, claiming the lives of some 400,000 Americans each year. A silent killer, health insurance often strikes without warning, its harmful and profit-based policies avoiding detection until it is far too late. Although the cruel bureaucratic disorder does not discriminate, statistics have shown that senior citizens, young dependents, and those woefully underemployed are most at risk. . . .

EXCELLENT STUFF. Make sure you visit the site: Man Succumbs To 7-Year Battle With Health Insurance.

Looming Issue: The Fragile Safety Net

During the Republic Windows and Doors labor action, I argued in a series of articles (here's an example) that progressive activists focused on the wrong issues. Although they rightfully focused on the workers' rights under federal and state law, their advocacy missed the boat in other areas.

First, they demonized Bank of America even though the company, which relocated and dumped its workforce, was the only culpable party. Furthermore, they failed to pay any attention to the overly burdened and insufficient economic safety net. With unemployment and rates of uninsured rising, these conversations need to take place. We can use the bailout as an analogy for that discussion, but bailout money cannot solve this part of the economic crisis -- which seemed to be an assumption of much of the activism surrounding Bank of America.

Today's San Francisco Chronicle reports that two think tanks have released studies on the declining safety net. One of the studies covers the State of California exclusively, but another, prepared by the Urban League, is national in scope. Here's a snippet from the article:

The Urban Institute reports paint the recession as the worst downturn in decades, and suggest that its severity will shock workers under 40 who have become accustomed to a relatively strong job market.

Simms said the hardest hit segment will be workers at the low end of the wage scale who are more likely to get laid off and less likely to collect unemployment benefits under current rules. Federal estimates suggest only 36.3 percent of unemployed people nationwide received benefits in 2007. Eligibility rules are set by the states, some of which have made it easier for low-wage workers to claim benefits.

And recently, the New York Times reported that many states' unemployment insurance funds are becoming insolvent as the number of people seeking benefits surges:

With unemployment claims reaching their highest levels in decades, states are running out of money to pay benefits, and some are turning to the federal government for loans or increasing taxes on businesses to make the payments.

Thirty states are at risk of having the funds that pay out unemployment benefits become insolvent over the next few months, according to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. Funds in two states, Indiana and Michigan, have already dried up, and both states are borrowing from the federal government to make payments to the unemployed.