Kucinich Announces Plans to Address Health Care in Oklahoma
The following is a press release from January 23, 2004, by the Kucinich campaign
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Kucinich Announces Plans to Address Health Care in Oklahoma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2004
Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich today announced a plan to address the health care problems facing Oklahomans.
"The problem with health care in this country," Kucinich said, "is not a lack of money, but the fact that a substantial part of every dollar we spend goes to the profits and executive salaries and lobbying and advertising of the HMOs and private insurance companies."
"We're spending enough money to provide every single American with comprehensive health care, but much of that money is wasted by for-profit insurance companies. Their executives get handsome stock options and bonuses. Meanwhile 18,000 people die each year of lack of health coverage."
"The same for-profit insurance system disadvantages people in rural parts of Oklahoma where hospitals close if their profits aren't up to par. I am the only Democratic candidate for President who has a detailed plan to replace the current system with national coverage, eliminating the HMOs and private insurers. Under this system, rural hospitals will be kept open."
"Under this system, called Enhanced Medicare for All, patients and doctors will be in control. Health care will be privately provided but publicly paid for. You'll choose your own doctors but not take home a bill, not have to worry about a co-payment, and not lose your coverage when you lose your job."
"Right now, 17 percent of Oklahomans have no health insurance, and approximately another 17 percent are underinsured. In Oklahoma, 32 percent of new mothers do not receive prenatal care beginning in the first trimester. Oklahoma has an infant mortality rate of 7.9 per hundred thousand people. The death rate from heart disease in Oklahoma is currently 324.2 per hundred thousand people, and from cancer 214 per hundred thousand people."
"All of these problems are worse in Oklahoma than nationally, and all of them can be addressed with the single-payer universal health care system I have proposed."
"The savings such a system will produce will allow investment in preventive medicine, resulting of course in additional savings. Tobacco prevention among youth will be part of this effort," Kucinich concluded.
For more information: http://www.kucinich.us
For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.
To schedule interviews with Kucinich or a spokesperson: interviews@kucinich.us
Oklahoma Contacts: Beth Skye, Campaign Director 405-249-5998 cell http://www.okforkucinich.us skye@okforkucinich.us; Bob Nichols 405-249-5888 bobnichols@okforkucinich.us
National Contacts:
Campaign Press Secretary: David Swanson 301-772-0210, cell 202-329-7847, fax 301-772-7293, swanson@kucinich.us
Susan Mainzer 213-840-0077, susan.mainzer@kucinich.us
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