IN THIS EPISODE

 

This time on Code WACK!. What do the tight midterm elections mean for our nation’s health care? Hanging in the balance are the fates of those who are dependent on pandemic emergency programs for their health care and millions of American seniors who anxiously face the privatization of traditional Medicare. 

To find out, we asked Michael Lighty, president of Healthy California Now, a statewide coalition dedicated to winning single payer, Medicare for All in the Golden State. He was also the healthcare constituency director for Bernie Sanders 2020. This is the first of two pods about the election results with Mr. Lighty.

Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more!

 

SHOW NOTES

 

WE DISCUSS

 

Were reproductive rights really the issue that drove Democrats to the polls?

 

“Well, there’s no question that … when 60% to 70% of the electorate supports an issue like access to abortion, it’s going to have an electoral impact. And that’s what we saw. ” – Michael Lighty

 

 

Will the midterms have any impact on the corporatization of health care, or should we just expect more of the same? 

 

“In some ways it’s a status quo election result … I frankly think that there is going to be some pushback at the state level on some of the corporatization of health care that we’ve seen, particularly in Medicaid. 

“I think there’s more interest in de-privatizing Medicaid and getting the for-profit insurance companies out of Medicaid … So in that sense, there’s a potential for progress.” – Michael Lighty

 

 

How else could the midterms affect healthcare reform at the national level?

 

“… the federal level is tough to gauge. 

“I think we can say that the really big threats to Medicare and Social Security are off the table because Republicans don’t have both houses . . . but they were definitely gonna go after Medicare …

“I think there is going to be a need, politically, to address healthcare inflation. Now, what that usually means when you’re not doing single payer, is restricting access  to services … trying to make changes on the delivery side … [promoting] schemes like ACO REACH or … Medicare Advantage.” – Michael Lighty

 

 

Helpful Links

 

Health Care In The 2022 Midterm Election, Kaiser Family Foundation/AP VoteCast

 

How abortion rights swayed results in the midterm election, PBS News Hour

 

Way Too Early Preview: What the Midterm Election Results Might Mean for Health Policy in 2023, National Law Review

 

Observations on Corporatization of Healthcare Systems in America, Missouri Medicine (National Library of Medicine)

 

Here’s What The Midterm Election Means For Seniors And Their Families, Forbes

 

Millions at risk of losing health insurance if U.S. ends Covid public health emergency in January, CNBC

 

Midterm Election Outcomes Indicate Broad Support for Equitable, Affordable Health Care and Coverage for All, Community Catalyst

 

 

Episode Transcript

 

Read the full episode transcript. 

 

 

Biography: Michael Lighty

 

Michael Lighty, President, Healthy California Now, has organized, advocated and developed policy for single-payer, Medicare for All nationally and in California for over 30 years. 

 

He is a founding Fellow of the Sanders Institute, and most recently, he was the Healthcare Constituency Director for Bernie 2020.

 

Formerly he was director of public policy for the California Nurses Association/ National Nurses United. He was lead policy analyst, a leader of Campaign for a Healthy California and testified on behalf of the single-payer bill, SB 562. 

 

 

Get Involved / Take Action

 

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You can also find us on ProgressiveVoices.com and NurseTalk Media.

 

This podcast is powered by HEAL California,
uplifting the voices of those fighting for health care reform.

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HEAL California is an independent news and information hub focused on the Medicare for All movement. We highlight the on-going injustices of our broken healthcare system and amplify the voices of those who are most impacted by it, with non-partisan news, views, podcasts and videos, 

Our Podcasts shine a light on the failures of America’s healthcare system, while explaining how Medicare for All could help.

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