Guaranteed Healthcare

The Wall St. Journal is freaking the heck out about Michael Moore’s new movie SiCKO.  Obviously they’ll   fan the flames of controversy and drive more ticket sales.  But their terror makes clear what a great moment we have ehre: finally the American people’s fear and loathing of drug and insurance companies is about to hit the big screen, which is just what this country’s ill healthcare system needs.  The question for us: how to leverage this into the most on-the-ground advances for healthcare reform?  Your thoughts are needed…

The Journal is worried sick:(sub. req’d)

"Filmmaker Michael Moore says on his Web site that his new documentary, "SiCKO," "will expose the health-care industry's greed and control over America's political processes."Controversy has become a key ingredient of marketing Mr. Moore's work, and the backers of "SiCKO" hope that the new movie will stir up emotions and help generate the kind of buzz that made his last movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," both a topic of national debate and an unprecedented blockbuster in the documentary genre….The question is whether his new film's subject material -- health care and insurance -- will deliver the kind of heat that he generated for "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Michael Moore invited the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association to a screening this week of SiCKO, and the answer to that last question is a definite and unqualified YES.  Like F/911, this movie is full of unforgettable moments that will lay bare the sickness of this nation’s healthcare industry, a sector build on sentencing customers to die so corporations can prosper.  People are sick of it, but no piece of pop culture has ever brought it together like this. 

So what are the healthcare corporations doing?  Freaking out: 

"The trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), has already prepared a press release that it is sending out when asked for comment on the movie, even though no one at PhRMA has seen it yet. In the press release, the group says Mr. Moore has a track record for sensationalism and will not make a documentary that is "balanced, thoughtful and well-researched."….Ken Johnson, senior vice president for PhRMA responded: "No one should be surprised that Michael Moore is making baseless accusations designed to drum up publicity for his movie." He added that Mr. Moore's movie was not on their "top ten list of concerns."….AHIP spokesman Mohit Ghose says they will respond to the movie once they've seen it, but they are already focused on improving quality access to health care and affordability."

 That last quote was from the America’s Health Insurance Plans, and, yes, the spokesperson’s fingers were crossed while he was speaking.  

But here’s the question: so Michael Moore has given this nation a wonderful gift.  How do we maximize it?  How do we use this attention and passion and focus to actually improve healthcare in this country. 

First of all, obviously, we need to use this film to hold our “allies’” feet to the fire.  I for one am sick of supposedly-progressive politicians saying they realize insurance companies are bleeding healthcare dry…but then turning around to vote for laws requiring all people to purchase private insurance or be fined.  You don’t cure lung cancer with cigarettes.  It's time to start calling these people out. 

On an institutional level, the National Nurses Organizing Committee will also certainly use this film to bring together caregivers and patients at screenings, and inspire them to form the alliances and build momentum for genuine healthcare reform.  Nurses in scrubs coming soon to your multiplex--watch for it. 

But what else?  This is a seminal moment for healthcare reform and we need your input on how activists can take advantage of it.  Please brainstorm and let us know what you come up with!