The intent of this position statement is to guide the development of public policy toward a universal healthcare system for all.
It is the position of the New York State Nurses Association that:
In a country where we should expect the best in health care for the amount of money spent, the United States has the highest error rates, most disorganized care, and highest costs compared to other countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, and Germany (Schoen, C., Osborn, R., Trang Huynh, P., et al., 2005). In addition, there are nearly 46 million uninsured people in America and nearly three million are New Yorkers, 15% of the state's residents (Current population survey, 2005). In New York City, almost one in three people under the age of 65 is without health insurance (Citizen Action of New York, 2005). Eight of ten uninsured persons are members of working families (Insuring America’s health, 2004). The increased use of temporary or contract employees means workers will be less likely to be eligible for healthcare benefits or choose not to be covered. Moreover, the increasing costs of employer-based healthcare benefits are not only preventing employees from purchasing healthcare coverage from their employers, but employers are offering this benefit less and less because of cost. In fact, the percentage of individuals insured with employer-based health plans dropped from 70 percent in 1987 to 61 percent in 2004 (Fact sheet, 2005).
Being uninsured heavily impacts individuals, families, communities and the population overall. A recent study shows that the uninsured person is 50% more likely than the privately insured person to be hospitalized for an avoidable condition that could have been prevented had the individual received the right health care at the right time (Access to care for the uninsured, 2005). As a result, uninsured persons rely much more heavily on the emergency department as their primary source of health care because the uninsured individual may have opted to forgo a clinic visit for a condition that worsened to the point where an emergency department visit became necessary. This contributes to unnecessary overcrowding in the emergency department. In addition, the cost of treating patients in the emergency department is significantly higher than in acute care clinics.
So critical is the issue of the uninsured that in 2004, the National Academies of Science, Institute of Medicine, Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance called upon the federal government to “take action to achieve universal health insurance and to establish an explicit schedule to reach this goal by 2010” (Insuring America’s health, 2004).
The plight of an increasing number of uninsured not only adversely impacts the uninsured individual, but it has had and continues to have a downward spiraling, pervasive effect on the American people and our economy. Our current healthcare environment is failing the American people – and it can no longer be ignored. Policymakers, particularly at the federal level, must heed the plea of the Institute of Medicine and work toward achieving a universal health system by 2010.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. NYSNA supports legislative proposals that would improve the public's access to affordable, quality health care. To achieve universal health care for all New Yorkers, the New York State Nurses Association recommends supporting legislation that guarantees comprehensive, universal health care for all that ensures:
Note: The use of the term “patient” anywhere in this document is intended to be generic and refers to the recipient of nursing care.
Approved by NYSNA Board of Directors on 01/11/06.
For more information on nursing practice, contact NYSNA's Education, Practice and Research Program at 518.782.9400, ext. 282 or by e-mail.