New Milford Hospital Medical Staff Endorse Universal Health Care Bill

New Milford Hospital Medical Staff voted by a margin of over 4 to 1 to endorse Bill 7030 which would create a publicly financed universal health care system for the State of Connecticut. Dr. Morris Clark, a New Milford Internist, speaking on behalf of the medical staff testified before the Labor Committee that he was surprised by the extent and depth of the medical staff’s support for this Bill which would provide comprehensive medical insurance, and coverage for all medications and nursing home care. He cited the medical staff’s frustration with managed care and wish of physician’s to be able to care for all Connecticut residents without concern for their ability to pay as the main reasons for the staff’s support for this legislation.

Former Chairman of the Pediatrics Department of Danbury Hospital, Dr. Jack Gundy, testified that this Bill would allow physicians to return their primary concern, providing medical care for patients as they saw fit, without insurance company pre-approval. Dr. Ed Volpintesta, an internist from Bethel, testified that the public financing of universal health care is an idea whose time has come.

Dr. John Battista, testifying on behalf of the 200 member CT Chapter of Physicians For A National Health Program, the group responsible for drafting Bill 7030, testified that publicly financed, universal health care was the only democratic, ethical, and fiscally responsible way to provide health care for all state residents. He cited the 1992 report of the CT Health Care Access Commission which predicted savings of over 2 Billion dollars a year in 1999 if this system were enacted. These savings result from decreased administrative expenses and purchasing medications in bulk. He pointed out that the public health care system this Bill would create was in place in every other industrialized country of the world except Germany and the United States. He cited studies showing that this health care system provided better quality health care than the United States for substantially less money. Dr. Battista stated that the American health care system, which leaves 15% of Americans uninsured, results in the United States ranking 16th in infant mortality, and 18th in life expectancy, despite spending more per capita than any other country, having the best trained health care providers, and the best medical infrastructure of any country in the world. He testified there would be no rationing or lines for medical services with this system, unlike Canada, because the state of Connecticut has a 35% oversupply of medical services, while this Bill would increase demand for these services by only 15%. He urged bipartisan support for this fiscally conservative health care Bill which would make Connecticut the first state to pass universal health care legislation.

Contacts:

Dr. Morris Clark, 860-354-5511 Dr. Jack Gundy, 860-775-1118 Dr. Edward Volpintesta, 203-744-1734 Dr. John Battista, 860-354-1822