Health Roundtable

HEALTH ROUNDTABLE

A healthy country is a productive country. And personal choices obviously affect our health. But personal responsibility isn’t the whole story. The landscape of each person’s life is shaped by interpersonal factors, organizations and institutions, communities, and a variety of public policies. All of these impact health in important ways above and beyond personal choices. Got just 4 minutes for an introduction to a more comprehensive way to think about health?

The Health Roundtable supports the LWVUS on health care reform of promoting equal access to a basic level of quality health care for all residents of the US paid for by general taxes based on income and includes effective cost control measures. To that end we seek to educate ourselves and the public concerning deficiencies in our current health care system, proposed solutions, and where candidates for public office stand on health care issues. We promote Medicaid Expansion in NC and support efforts to bring it about.

Meeting Date and Time

Usually, the first Monday of the month at noon via Zoom. Round Table members are on a recurring invitation list. Others wishing to attend, please email Wayne Hale at [email protected] to receive the Zoom link.

LWVPT Health Care Roundtable Goals

Program Goals for 2024-2025

Related to LWVUS positions on Health Care as listed in the 2023-2024 Voter Impact

“….quality health care at an affordable costs should be available to all U.S. residents”. “The League supports the single-payer concept as a viable and desirable approach to implementing League positions on equitable access, affordability, and financial feasibility.”

We resolve to study:

1. Threats to patient/care provider relationships related to governmental and corporate intrusions with a focus on reproductive rights.
2. The effects of managed care on Medicaid and Medicare benefits including the threat to Medicare solvency related to increased management costs.
3. Hospital systems and private equity expansions and acquisitions in the Piedmont Triad area considering effects on the public’s finances and health care access.

Policy Statement

The 2016 – 17 public policy statement of the League of Women Voters of the Triad under social policy, health care was, “Promote a healthy community that recognizes the importance of social, geographic, political influences. Promote a health care system for the Piedmont Triad that provides access to affordable, quality care for all residents, including prevention of disease, primary care (including prenatal and reproductive health), acute care, long-term care, and mental health care (including substance abuse treatment). Promote control of health care costs, equitable distribution of services, efficient and economical delivery of care, advancement of medical research and technology, and a reasonable total expenditure level for health.”

Resources

Two minute video about your vote

This short video explains all the ways you can use your vote to affect health care policies, many of which are not obvious. They are nonetheless extremely important.

NC Medicare for All Coalition

NC Medicare for All is a statewide coalition promoting a single payer health care system in the US that covers everyone. Please spend some time on their website.