The Healthcare Crisis Can’t Wait Another Decade For A Solution

Corrupt Blue Dog David Scott represents a big swath of suburban Atlanta south and west of the the city, just below Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. The biggest counties in the district (GA-13) are Cobb, Clayton, Douglas, Fulton, Henry and Fayette. Trump lost the first 5 and won in Fayette County. The PVI is a healthy, unassailable D+20. So what is a district like that doing with a Republican-lite Blue Dog congressman, one who has never-- and still doesn't-- even live in the district? And who has a reputation-- well-deserved-- for long being one of the Democratic Party's most corrupt public officials? Luckily, this cycle a progressive champion is taking Scott on in a primary battle, Michael Owens, former Cobb County Democratic Party chairman Michael Owens, a cybersecurity expert, community activist and Marine Corp veteran. Below, he wrote about a big component of why he decided to run: health policy. Please take a look-- and if you agree that it would be good for Georgia and for the whole country to replace an anti-healthcare corporate shill with a strong progressive, please consider clicking on the 2020 congressional primary thermometer below and chipping in what you can to Michael's campaign.


We Need More Health Care Not Another Health Fair
by Dr. Michael C. Owens
Candidate
U.S. Congress GA-13

Congressman David Scott hosted his 15th annual Health Fair Saturday. It is an annual event where people can get tested for a number of serious conditions including clinical breast cancer exams; prostate cancer; HIV/ AIDS; diabetes; blood pressure; asthma; cholesterol; mental health; sickle cell; vision; Dental; Orthopedic; mental health services for veterans and more according to the announcement.


No one should have an issue with Congressman Scott providing access to testing for so many serious conditions plaguing our communities in the 13th congressional district. These tests are vital to people being able to find care for these serious conditions in time to possibly save their lives or avoid life changing difficulties.

However, therein lies the problem. This is a once a year opportunity to deal with a 365 day a year problem. After 15 years of Health Fairs, the question becomes, when will the people be provided adequate health care. It’s great that people can get screened and can find out if they have a critical illness but then what? What do those that are without insurance or those that have insurance but with sky-high deductibles do to get treatment for serious health conditions they have now been made aware of?

It’s not hard to figure out why someone might need free testing. The congressman’s website provides a picture of what might be driving the need for people to attend his health fair to get critical testing done:

“Since 2018, Georgia has had the fourth highest uninsured rate in the United States-- 5 percent higher than the national average. While 13.4 percent of Georgians are uninsured, the uninsured rate is over 30 percent in some rural counties. Over one-third of the uninsured population in Georgia is concentrated in five counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area, and three of which are in Georgia’s 13th District (Clayton, Cobb, and Fulton counties).” 

And these numbers don’t include people who can’t afford to use the healthcare they currently have for any number of reasons. Regardless of being uninsured or unable to pay an exorbitant deductible out of pocket, anyone who needs medical care after Congressman Scott’s health fair will be faced with the full brunt of our healthcare crisis.

The people of the 13th district need a congressman who will work towards solutions that will provide families year round healthcare coverage. Health Fairs do not provide this and thus far Congressman’s health care policies stop evolving a decade ago. Until yesterday when posts about his outdated politics surfaced on Twitter, Congressman Scott’s healthcare section of his website was from a decade ago and talked about the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Healthcare is a critical part of the current national policy discussion. Yet Congressman Scott is still talking about Health Fairs and decade old policies. Voters in Georgia consider healthcare to be a priority issue. The support for Medicare expansion within the state topped 70% in polling last year. The Democratic Presidential debate centers healthcare as a cornerstone issue defining differences between the huge field of candidates. Most of the candidates frame their differences on policy around Medicare for All vs. some other ambitious plan to provide affordable universal healthcare coverage for every American. Then there are others that do not. Congressman Scott has made the decision not to be on the side of patients but instead, stand with Big Pharma and Healthcare executives.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-WA) H.R. 1384 recently gained its 117th House cosponsor, a majority of House Democrats, making it the House Democratic caucus’ official position on healthcare. Congressman Scott’s name isn’t on this list. With all of this focus on the crisis facing millions of Americans and thousands of Georgians, what is David Scott’s position? Host another Heath Fair.

Congressman Scott appears to be aligned with that very small wing of the Democratic Caucus that is committed to maintaining a system where the right of private insurance and prescription companies get to continue to set the rules for American healthcare policy with the goal of ensuring their cut of the healthcare profit “pie.” Congressman Scott defines the majority of his positions based on priorities set by his donors, almost all of whom do not live in our communities in the 13th district. David Scott’s pay to play politics are out of step with the majority of congressional Democrats, out of step with the majority of Americans, and out of step with his constituents in Georgia’s 13th congressional district.

I support Medicare-for-All without qualification. I support the majority of the Democratic Congressional Caucus in demanding affordable and accessible healthcare for ALL. I support an end to the corporate stranglehold on healthcare that prevents Americans from accessing the care they need to thrive not just survive. I support policies that will lower the cost of prescription medication and I support the right for American women, children and men receive quality healthcare as a right.

I am challenging David Scott because the people in the 13th District need an advocate who will prioritize improving the health of people over the profits of insurance companies.