Letter from our Chair, Dr. George Bohmfalk

Dear members and friends of Health Care Justice•NC,

Well, we had an election. Things didn’t turn out the way many of us had hoped, but at least we still have a progressive governor. There’s lots of anxiety and curiosity on how the incoming President’s administration and Congress may govern, particularly regarding healthcare. Many opinions expressed by incoming department leaders concern us, about immunizations, the National Institutes of Health, CDC, and other policies and agencies. But we’ve also heard talk of lowering prescription drug prices, doing something about PBMs (Pharmacy Benefits Managers), and even maybe something on the proliferation of guns. So we’ll have to stay attentive and keep our fingers crossed while calling and writing our representatives.

The prospects of achieving Improved Medicare for All (MFA) may be a bit dimmer for the short-term, but there are some important wins that we can work toward. The unfortunate assassination of the UnitedHealth CEO provoked a vigorous overdue national discussion about private health insurance companies, their interference in the delivery of needed care, and their exorbitant profits and executive salaries at the expense of people who need healthcare. Something good may come out of this human tragedy. 

In particular, we’ll try to make further gains with Medicare Advantage, the for-profit branch of Medicare (Part C) that has severely taken advantage of taxpayers and patients. During the Open Enrollment period this fall, I didn’t see a single TV ad with Joe Namath or Jimmie Walker! But I did get 20-30 robocalls a day from Advantage vendors, humorously with AI bots that said, “Yes, I’m a real person” when I asked if they were. But when they continued their spiel and I asked them to repeat “1-2-3” or the like, it quickly became obvious how inhuman they were, just like the companies.

One of our North Carolina colleagues was recently asked by a Republican State Senator to give him a list of 20 reasons we should get rid of Medicare Advantage. Several of us quickly collaborated on that list, as it’s easy to come up with many more than that. We hope to meet with him to discuss it and hope that he’ll share it with his colleagues. We don’t view this list as a finished product, as any list like this can always be improved. I invite you to peruse it and offer any suggestions that you feel may strengthen and make it more compelling. And share it as widely as you can!

This year our Board engaged in a strategic planning process that will direct much of our efforts for a while. In particular, we will engage with unions, as we view organized labor as potentially a major force in moving us toward Improved MFA. We also hope to establish a student chapter at the new Wake Forest medical school that will welcome a new freshman class next summer. We also plan to reach out to faith communities to gain momentum around shared values. If you would like to be involved in any of these areas, or in any other way, please let us know. 

I’m stepping down as Chair of HCJ•NC, passing the gavel to Doug Robinson, a retired endocrinologist. We also welcome to our Board Rev. Janet Garner-Mullins, who has been very active in restorative justice and antiracism. I’m confident that under Doug’s leadership we will do great things to move us toward a universal healthcare coverage and incredible peace of mind. Maybe not this year, but maybe before too long. I hope we all live to see and benefit from it! 

Thanks for your support and interest in achieving a healthcare system that puts patients over profits and serves everyone.

George Bohmfalk, MD