Thursday, July 09, 2009

Prescription for Real Health Care Reform Author: Howard Dean Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing ASIN: 1603582282

About This Book

Conversations on how to reform healthcare are long-standing and varied. But healthcare costs have soared, health insurance companies get richer and even those who pay dearly for health insurance frequently find that their policies don’t adequately cover them when they need their coverage most.

Howard Dean—the physician and former governor credited for reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections—has ideas on what needs to be done to successfully reform healthcare. He suggests offering Americans the option to participate in a public healthcare program, much like Medicare. “America has had ‘socialized’ medicine since 1964,” says Dean. “It’s called Medicare; it covers every American over 65, and the majority of them are happy with the program. The rest of America deserves a similar option.”

In his new book, Dean explains:

• What Obama’s healthcare plan is all about
• How other countries handle healthcare
• Which special interests are standing in the way of progress and why
• How healthcare reform will help American businesses prosper
• Why Americans need choice-between private or public health coverage

Howard Dean—physician and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)—served six terms as Governor of Vermont before running for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in the nation’s 2004 election. Dean also founded Democracy for America (DFA), the grassroots organization that organizes activists in local communities, trains campaign staff, and endorses progressive candidates. Recently, Dean launched a DFA healthcare reform campaign—pushing legislators to give Americans a public healthcare option. While he was Vermont’s governor, the state expanded its universal healthcare program for children and pregnant women—and also lowered its public debt, balanced its budget 11 times, and reduced income taxes.