• Mennonite Church USA
  • Health Care Access — Mennonite panel discussion of current heath care issues — Biblical reflection, Corinthian Plan, legislative proposals, reponse to questions — audio and slides. (September 2009).
  • www.MennoniteUSA.org/peace – Resources on health care and U.S. public policy advocacy.
  • Healthcare Access – 2009 resolution on health care; health care policy principles; and related resources.
  • Healing Healthcare: A Study and Action Guide on Healthcare Access in the United States, edited by Joseph J. Kotva, (Faith & Life Resources, 2005).
    www.mennoniteusa.org – overview of “Healing Healthcare” six-session study/action guide.
• Mennonite Central Committee
  • MCC Washington Memo blog with weekly updates on Health Care Legislation.
  • MCC Washington Memo Summer 2009 issue, with commentary on the U.S. debate on national health care policy.
• Sojourners magazine: August 2008 issue, with feature articles on health care.
  www.sojo.net

Current state of health care in the U.S. and Pennsylvania
In 2007, the U.S. spent about $2.26 trillion on health care, or $7,439 per person which is about 15.2% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

U.S. infant mortality, life expectancy, health care cost

• Wikipedia:
  • Infant Mortality rates.
  • Life Expectancy.
  • Health Care in the United States
• www.kaiseredu.org
  U.S. Health Care costs
• healthcare-economist.com
  Comparison of U.S. and Canadian health statistics

Characteristics of good health care plan

• www.healthcare4allpa.org
  “Insuring America’s Health: Principles and Recommendations” (summary)
  and information on “single-payer” health care systems.

• www.iom.edu
  “Insuring America’s Health: Principles and Recommendations” (full report)
  from The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences
• www.kaiseredu.org
  Research papers on health care policy.

Proposed Health Care Legislation

“Prescription for Pennsylvania” – Governor Ed Rendell

• www.ohcr.state.pa.us
  Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform
• www.rxforpa.com
  Governor’s “Prescription for Pennsylvania”
• www.rxforpa.com
  Rendell plan: Health Care Myths

Pennsylvania Legislation

• www.healthcare4allpa.org
  Pennsylvania Single-Payer, Universal Coverage (HB1660, SB300)

• www.pahealthaccess.org
  Pennsylvania Health Access Network (SB1137, HB2005 — based on Rendell “Prescription for Pennsylvania”)
• www.pharmacychoice.com
  Summary of legislative action on health care measures in 2008.

U.S. Congress (“ObamaCare”)

• Washington and Lee University law professor Tim Jost has provided a good overview of the House, Senate, and revised Senate health reform bills (Dec. 2009). As of January 2010, this legislation is in House-Senate Conference Committee.
  • the House Bill (HR 3962)  (10-30-09)
  • the Senate Bill, Part 1       (12-19-09)
  • the Senate Bill, Part 2       (12-21-09)

U.S. Health Care Proposals

• www.healthcare-now.org
  H.R. 676 — “United States National Health Insurance Act: Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Bill” (re-introduced by Rep. John Conyers in 2009; now with 80+ co-sponsors) U.S. Single-Payer(publicly funded, like Medicare), Universal Coverage (everyone included).
• President Barack Obama’s speech to the American Medical Association (June 15, 2009), outlining the Administration’s proposal for health care reform.
• Links to commentary on the President’s health care reform proposal, including description of a “health insurance exchange”.
• www.health08.org
  Comparison of McCain and Obama health care proposals – fall 2008 (Note: Both plans continue to use private insurance–i.e., neither plan is single-payer)

Mennonite Church USA – Health Insurance for Church Workers

• www.mennoweekly.org
  Health insurance plan (Mennonite Weekly Review) September 29, 2008.
• www.easterndistrict.org
  More links to details about the “Corinthian Plan” (mutual aid health insurance plan for church employees).
• www.mennoniteusa.org
  Health Care for Church Workers (Mennonite Church USA) — History, Biblical foundation, and overview of new health care insurance plan. Enrollment will begin in 2009 for coverage beginning January 2010.

Other Resources

• ja.ppjr.org
  Health Care: links to many church-related resources — Pennsylvania and U.S.
  Justice & Advocacy Committee, Lehigh County Conference of Churches