soc 210 health care
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Health CarePublic health care in Canada -Medicare
Sociology 210
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Canadian Health Care - How did we get here?
Universal government health insurance widely regardedas triumph of postwar Canadian state
Estimated 47 million Americans have no health-carecoverage (1/5 population)
many more have inadequate coverage In U.S., health-care costs = leading cause of personal
bankruptcy most with health insurance, get through job
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Canadian Doctors for Medicare
Co-founder: Dr. Robert Woolard
As a doctor, I know the value of our public healthcare system. Everyday, I see patients getting the
care they need regardless of their ability to pay.
And I know that without Medicare, Canadians wouldhave to worry about whether they could afford to
get care when theyre sick or injured. http://www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca/ -
www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca/
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Canadian Health Care - How did we get here?
Post World War II: Conditions in Canada popular demand for public health care
good economic timespositive experiences of governmentintervention during & after the war political will on part of individuals &governments
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Political Will
One of most famous individuals = Tommy Douglas, Premierof Saskatchewan, 1944 As child, infection in leg. Would have lost leg if caredepended on familys ability to pay.
Doctor offers services, using young Tommy to illustrate anew technique.
Douglas decides health care must not be dependent oncharity or accident (i.e. doctor offering aid without pay)http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/arts-entertainment/media/media-general/and-the-
greatest-canadian-of-all-time-is.html - http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/arts-entertainment/media/media-general/and-the-greatest-canadian-of-all-time-is.html
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1947: his social-democratic government introduces1st public hospital insurance plan in Canada
Becomes model for public-health care system Opponents: fear government intervention + loss of
private controlHospitals: mainly owned/operated by non-profit/charitable or religious organizations.
Often financially troubled patients unable topay for hospital services
Across Canada, see growing demands fromindividuals, organizations & regional governmentsto follow Saskatchewan
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Resistance from certain provinces - fear federalgovernment interference
Health care primarily a provincial responsibility(first under British North America Act, thenCanada Act, 1982) 1950s: Despite opposition from wealthier provinces(Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, B.C.), federalgovernment proceeds
1957: introduces national hospital insurance planOffers to pay 1/2 hospital operating costs ifprovinces agree to certain basic principles
Provinces agree
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Late 1950s: Douglas proposes doctors get a paidsalary from the governmentMany doctors not amused - some strike, some
continue to work long tradition of private,independent practice1962: Saskatchewan legislation - Doctors continuein private practice, with fees paid by governmentDoctors: public payment for private practice, witheveryone covered for doctor care
Next step = Doctors
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At Federal level: Progressive Conservative PrimeMinister, John DiefenbakerGives in to doctors pressures
Calls for Royal Commission to search foralternatives to universal public health care
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1964-5: Report of the Royal Commission on
Health Services
Recommend single payment system argue: everyone covered for doctor care +
full range of health services
Cover allservices - from hospitals tolong-term care & home care, drugs,doctors, nurses, dentists + preventativeprograms
Argued would increase efficiency &effectiveness
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Federal proposal:provide universal insurance to cover physician
care
1966: Liberal Prime Minister Lester Pearson - only
adopts recommendation on doctors - assumed willmove on to other services later Medical Care Act becomes law - many doctorsprotest - over next few years provinces decide
whether to support 1972: All provinces pass legislation
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5 Principles of Canada Health Act (1983)
Universality
Accessability Comprehensiveness Portability Public Administration
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Universality
Everyone in province (except tourists, visitors,transients) must be covered for public healthinsurance under same terms & conditions.
Care defined as a right
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Accessibility
Services must be similar for everyone. Must be reasonable access to health care
Must be unimpeded by financial or otherbarriers
Doctors cannot extra-bill, hospitals cannotimpose user-fees or charge patients foressential services
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Comprehensiveness
All medically necessary services guaranteed Means: those associated with medical practitioners,
dentists performing required services in hospitals,and hospitals - not all health services
For hospital care: Everything needed for care inhospital must be provided without charge (even
private rooms if medically necessary) Doctors decide what medically necessary.
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Portability
Can take health insurance from province toprovince - also from job to job
If visiting another province, get sick, homeinsurance must pay for care, and pay at ratein other provinceWhen move, take health insurance with youfor 3 months, until other provincial healthcoverage in place
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Public Administration
Health insurance plan of each province/
territory be publicly administered
Administered by non-profit agency -responsible to government
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The Present:
The profitizationof Canadas Health Care System
Must position the politics of medicareinperiod where mounting pressures to
dismantle post-war Canadian statePublic health care being undermined
erosion of 5 principles of Canada HealthActmassive hemorrhaging of programs/services outsideof public coverage
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Massive health-care reforms:Medicare remains, but gets hollowed outNeo-liberal governments in Canada shifting locusof care outside hospitals & doctors offices
Therefore, outside the rules and universalentitlements of medicareImportant - doing reforms this way, avoids intensepolitical debates that would follow direct assaultson medicareConcern about potential conflict between privateprofits & public interest
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Privatization is not a cure Pat Armstrong
Chapter focusses on women as health careusersand providers
Argues: Fundamental transformations inCanadas public health care systemundermining:
Womens access to health care
Womens work in health care sector
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Privatization of Health Care
Refers to different policy initiatives: Limit role of public sector Define health as private responsibility
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From the Welfare State to the Managerial State:Building for Sale
Privatizing Costs Privatization through Deinstitutionalization Privatization through For-profit delivery Privatization through Management Privatization through Home Care
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Privatizing Costs
Services cut back Increased various forms of private payment Delist certain services (eg: eye exams) Redefine hospital care (short term stays)
acute care Move people from hospitals -> long term care
facilities & home care (where fees can becharged
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Privatization through Deinstitutionalization
1990s key part of health care reform: Shift from institutional -> home &
community-based care
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Privatization through For-profit delivery
Canada now has for-profit laboratories, for-profit cataract surgery, for-profit dialysis,
for-profit cancer care, for-profit home care
All justified as compensating for inadequaciesin the system
Inadequacies created by governmentcutbacks
Consequences for womens access to healthcare & wages in sector