Thanks to Jeoffry B. Gordon, MD, MPH, for this summary of the successful event which took place July 17, 2010. Photos provided by California OneCare.

Last weekend, Physicians for A National Health Program California held a conference in Los Angeles on SB 810 – Single Payer for all Californians. It was attended by more than 150 enthusiastic and eager people. Speakers included Dr. Margaret Flowers, who was arrested at Senator Max Baucus’s Senate Finance Committee hearing which put single payer off the table; Dr. Paul Hochfeld, leader of The Mad As Hell Doctors’ tour; and former state Senator Sheila Kuehl.

They all gave inspirational messages and examples from practical experience. Representatives of state Senator Mark Leno, California Teachers Association, California Nurses Association, California State Employees Association and California OneCare also participated.

Among the important messages were:

• There is a growing state and national movement in support of Medicare for All
• Obama’s health reform package is too complex and costly – especially for companies, individuals and families
• The federal reforms won’t work as well because there are too many giveaways to health insurance companies
• Electing a governor in November who will preserve the community’s safety net and improve civic participation in California is crucial
• Universal health care is just one brick in the foundation needed to reverse our county’s decline into income polarization and corporate control
• True success for SB 810 is a long term project, probably taking seven to ten years and a ballot initiative to achieve.

More information and copies of presentations are available at the PNHP California website and on the organization’s Facebook page.

Jeoffry B. Gordon, MD, MPH