1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I want you to know that Physicians for a National Health Program just released the results of their survey of over 1000 physicians and what they found is appalling. Almost half of all doctors (44%) cannot provide the care their patients need because insurance companies won’t let them. A quarter of those surveyed are considering leaving their jobs and 27% have already quit a position because they lacked sufficient authority to provide needed care for their patients. When insurance companies dictate treatment to save money and commercially driven medical networks restrict what doctors can do and they time allotted to help patients then doctors and patients suffer needlessly. You can fix this. You can ensure your constituents can go to the doctor, receive the care they need without risking debt or bankruptcy. I want you to support and pass universal healthcare like HR 3069 or S 1506. Either one will improve national productivity as well as public health, for less than we spend now, according to the 2020 Congressional Budget Office Report. Then I want you to pass legislation that reins in the negative effect that commercial networks have on healthcare. Private equity and commercial acquisitions of medical networks have increased patient risk by bleeding the network dry and then often leaving patients and providers in the lurch, for the benefit of investors. A bill was introduced in Congress to address this and I would like you to implement it and apply it to all medical networks acquisitions - not just private equity. It was the Health Over Wealth Act. Thank you. References: Physicians for a National Health Program Report - https://pnhp.org/moral-injury-in-medicine/ CBO Report On Universal Healtcare Savings - https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2020-12/56811-Single-Payer.pdf Private Equity Damage to Health Networks - https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-consequences-of-private-equitys-expansion-in-health-care-services/