Talk World Radio: They’re Privatizing Medicare While Your Eyes Are on a Democracy Summit
https://soundcloud.com/davidcnswanson/talk-world-radio-theyre-privatizing-medicare-while-your-eyes-are-on-a-democracy-summit
Talk World Radio is recorded as audio and video on Riverside.fm. Here is this week’s video and all the videos on Youtube. We’re using only the guest video and not the host this week, because Riverside is getting them out of synch when combining.
This week on Talk World Radio, the sneaky and sleazy bipartisan privatizing of Medicare. Our guest, Kay Tillow, is chair of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care and Coordinator of Unions for Single Payer Health Care. She is a retired union organizer who has worked for decades with nurses and other hospital workers.
Total run time: 29:00
Host: David Swanson.
Producer: David Swanson.
Music by Duke Ellington.
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How the Grinch* Stole Medicare (*Could also be Cringe)
With every senior in the nation
Original Medicare has been quite a sensation!
It’s the government that runs Medicare
Which is how it has managed to be cost-effective and fair!
But the for-profit privatizer known as the “Grinch”
Could hardly wait to throw in a wrench.
He schemed and he plotted
And figured out just what to do!
He bought off officials and
The whole list of DC who’s who!
He came up with plans
That were no more than scams:
Medicare Advantage that denied care
Accountable Care Organizations to risk-share
Health Maintenance Organizations to limit choice
And finally, Direct Contracting Entities to stifle your voice!
[Senior] What is a Direct Contracting Entity?
What is this thing we are hearing about, this DCE?
[Narrator] You know those plans called Medicare Advantage?
Run by corporations that profit and your health mismanage?
Imagine the Grinch in charge of your health care
Imagine the Grinch in charge of your Medicare!
[Senior] You mean, even if I choose to avoid those plans
I’m still going to end up with the Grinch, without my consent?
[Narrator] Alas, without your knowledge as well, I lament!
[Senior] Wait a minute! Why would the government
Hand Medicare to the Grinch like a present?
[Narrator] They say it’s to control costs and improve care
But it’s another way for Wall Street to grab it’s share.
There are now 53 DCEs in 38 states and DC
[Senior] You mean there is probably one near me?
[Narrator] Yes! This new scheme could trap
More than 30 million seniors on Original Medicare!
[Senior] Oh, no! I don’t want to go into the DCE lair!
[Narrator] Most DCEs are owned by Wall Street firms,
Medicare Advantage, private equity and venture capitalist worms!
And very soon, who will be making decisions but the Grinch?
[Senior] Oh, no! He will ruin our health care with his stench!
[Senior] How does this work? What, where, and when?
[Narrator] That was the problem:
How could the Grinch entice seniors into his den?
He puzzled and pondered, and plotted and rotted
And this is the scheme he concocted:
Lure doctors to join Direct Contracting Entities
With promises to share in his profits
And once a doctor joined, his patients would follow
From doctor to Grinch, that was the plan they could swallow!
[Senior] And as expected, to increase his money creations,
The Grinch will demand lots of prior authorizations
Deny care and life-saving medications
Drain good money from the Trust Fund
Jack up B premiums till we’re stunned
And spend only 60% of their revenue
On our health care, too!
[Narrator] The one bit of health care
He’ll leave behind
Is a routine well visit
Too small to find!
[Senior] All the while not proving
He’s saving money and our care’s improving!
In the end,
The Grinch DCE is not our friend
Just a scheme to get between doctor and care
No more choice, no more Original Medicare!
This is not right!
Lots of money for them and no health in sight!
Is there anything we can do to end this plight?
[Narrator] Yes! The good news is that our movement is growing
To end the corruption this Grinch has been sowing.
Privatizing health care always adds cost
Make sure that Medicare is never lost!
So right now, today, get on the ball!
Improve it! Expand it! Demand national, single payer, Medicare for All!
Here’s what you can do:
Write or call Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra to stop Direct Contracting Entities now!
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775
Write to your member of Congress demanding a halt to DCEs now!
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
Join a DCE protest soon by going to www.nationalsinglepayer.com
Join National Single Payer at www.nationalsinglepayer.com
Find out more about DCEs here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27IqMLr934
Press release on Dec. 11, 2021, 11 am protest at Humana in Louisville: http://kyhealthcare.org/news/kentucky
Protest: How the Grinch Stole Medicare: http://kyhealthcare.org/posts/protest-how-the-grinch-stole-medicare
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/KSPHmed4all/photos/gm.1236096000134715/2431752350290784/
Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care www.kyhealthcare.org, 502 636 1551
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David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is executive director of WorldBeyondWar.org and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson's books include War Is A Lie. He blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org. He hosts Talk Nation Radio. He is a 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee.
Follow him on Twitter: @davidcnswanson and FaceBook.
Help support DavidSwanson.org, WarIsACrime.org, and TalkNationRadio.org by clicking here: http://davidswanson.org/donate.Sign up for these emails at https://actionnetwork.org/forms/articles-from-david-swanson.
