The Red-Greens Headquarters [NSG Senate]

[Wolfmanne]

I can help with the healthcare law if you'll have me.

That would be great.

There is a universal healthcare bill in the queue at number 2, so you may want to look at that before you write your own.

Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely have a look at the bill and then we will decide where to go from there.

viewtopic.php?p=14336283#p14336283

Here.

[Mytannion]

http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=14336283#p14336283

Here.

Having read through it it is actually pretty close to what I was hoping to draft. We shall see what happens when it comes to vote, I would hope it passes at the moment, I do think it is a service for which funds from taxation need to be guaranteed from. It needs to be something we put importance in, a healthy population is important after all. I also believe that Clause XI needs to be amended too (unless I am missing something), to something along the lines of:

"Ofmed reserves the right to end a contract or subcontract by a private medical provider if it fails to improve efficiency and maintain quality of service in the service that it's providing."

If it does pass, which I hope it does, I do think an amendment along them lines needs to be made. There is no mention of maintaining quality and even though that may seem to be common sense, it needs to be made clear (unless of course I have missed something in which case, excellent bill!).

[Free South Califas]

I agree with your suggested amendment but have these further issues with the bill. I ask anyone who agrees with me to consider drafting an amendment omnibus, or perhaps a comprehensive redraft. Or we can redraft it (it has some small grammar and style issues like most bills) with just the vital life-and-death stuff in it (like Gender Reassignment Surgery to directly prevent suicides), and draft an amendment omnibus for the more political stuff. Any thoughts, RG Senators? Sorry if this is too distracting.

Universal Healthcare Act

Urgency: High

Originally Written by: Chestaan[C]

Firstly Modified by: Lemanrussland[LD]

Secondly Modified by Wolfmanne[PC]

Original bill Co-Sponsored by: Shrillland[RG], Argorland[TR], Maklohi Vai[LD], TerraPublica[C], Wolfmanne[PC]

First Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Greater Pokarnia[C], Othelos[PC], Soviet Canuckistan[LD], Britcan[TR], Chestaan[C]

Second Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Chestaan[C]

Recognising that healthcare is a right that must be provided to all in our great and unnamed nation.

Realising that this can only be achieved by providing low cost and easily accessible hospital care to all our citizens.

Understanding that many citizens may be unable to afford the care of a GP and that these people must be provided for.

Stating that in the long run, such provisions will only benefit our people and also the economy, as a healthy population is a necessity for a healthy economy.

This Act establishes the following:

(i) A national healthcare system will provide free healthcare at the point of service to all citizens. Expenses shall be covered by government taxation revenue. All health care includes, but is not limited to: hospital care, GP care, dentistry, orthodontics, specialist care, psychiatric care, all necessary surgery, home help, all necessary treatments, counselling, prescription mecidines etc.

(ii) The National Health Board (NHB), subordinate to the Ministry of Health, shall be set up to oversee our healthcare system. The responsibilities of the NHB include, but are not limited to, the building of government hospitals, the hiring of medical staff, the setting of standards for our health industry, and the regulation of all healthcare professionals.

(iii) All citizens shall be free to purchase private health services, outside of the national health system, if they wish to do so.

(iv) Non-critical medical procedures (for example: sex changes or non-imperative plastic surgery) are not covered by the national healthcare system. Citizens seeking those kinds of operations will have to go to the private sector.

(v) A series of National Health Board Regional Authorities will be established to commission health services on behalf of the NHB and to ensure that regional priorities can be set. Each individual National Health Board Regional Authorities shall be run by a board consisting of health care professionals and paid Directors to ensure that the balance between a professional opinion and monetary pragmatism is maintained. The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to be allocated a budget set by the National Health Board, based upon need, which is factored by things such as population, sickness rate etc.

(vi) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to co-ordinate strategy for primary care, secondary and emergency medical services to Ambulance Services Trusts and Medical Care Trusts but shall not take a direct role, for that is the responsibility of the relevant trusts. They are to provide tertiary care and quaternary care, plus maintain an Air Ambulance and if necessary, a Sea/River Ambulance.

(vii) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to have a series of trusts under them: the Ambulance Service Trusts and the Medical Care Trusts. The Ambulance Services Trusts shall provide emergency medical services within their assigned area. Ambulance Services Trusts will be overseen by a board of Paramedics, executive and non-executive Directors. The Medical Care Trusts shall oversee all primary and secondary care within their assigned area, with all polyclinics, hospitals, clinics, general practices etc coming under them. The Medical Care Trusts will be overseen by a board of medical professionals, executive and non-executive Directors.

(viii) The Office of Medical Care and Ambulance Service Regulation (Ofmed) is established to regulate the NHB Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care. Ofmed shall inspect all Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care, on behalf of the National Health Board, the Ministry of Health and the Senate to ensure that they meet regulations by these three bodies. The National Health Board shall establish a series of gradings that Ofmed inspectors will award once they conclude an inspection. If a Regional Authority, trust or institution of medical care fails to obtain a reasonable, Ofmed are permitted to step in and temporarily administrate the said body until it's grade is raised to a more acceptable level. Ofmed shall also regulate an economic activities by the medical private sector to ensure that they comply with national law and they will grade institution of medical care, however in the event of a poor standard of care, Ofmed may not administrate private medical providers should they fail to meet national standards but it may issue a lawsuit against the said institution and should the lawsuit be successful, then another company is to step in and take over. If no buyer can be found, then relevant NHB trust shall take over all assets.

(xi) The National Health Board Regional Authorities, the Medical Care Trusts and the Ambulance Services Trusts are permitted to contract or subcontract qualified providers from the private sector and charities in order to improve efficiency. Ofmed reserves the right to end a contract or subcontract by a private medical provider if it fails to improve efficiency in the service that it's providing. The St John's Ambulance in Aurentina and the Aurentinian Red Cross are to provide additional staffing and vehicles to the National Health Board Regional Authorities and the Ambulance Service Trusts and they shall receive special status in recognition for their work.

---

The new Universal Health Care Act, with additional clauses authored by I and approved by Chestaan, the original writer. It contains clause to improve efficiency and to ensure that standards of care are high. The aim of the additional clauses to ensure that medical professionals and patients have a say in how the health care system is run, increased regionalisation to ensure that the medical needs of individual regions are met, clarification on who provides Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Care and guidelines for the regulation of the public and private medical systems by Ofmed, the regulator that will also be established and also regarding how the health care budget is divided and used.

EDIT: Accidentally used the version with co-pay, removed the co-pay clause.

Problems
(iv) It is discriminatory against transsexual people to dismiss "sex changes" as unnecessary and relegate them to private burdens in order to receive necessary surgical procedures. (Understanding medical consensus only takes a quick search.) When I say "necessary" I refer to the life-or-death scenario implied by the need for Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS), which is now known to significantly decrease rates of suicide. We ought not take this blood on our hands.

(v) Given that again life and death decisions are at hand, I'd rather like the local community to be able to elect at least one delegate to these boards as well, ideally with an explicit ratified mandate and instant recall. Again ideally, the balance should consider these as an important part of the boards.

(vii) Same, although in this case I would accept a strictly limited role for nonprofessional community input; or, better, a requirement that the community delegate have relevant professional and/or academic experience.

(viii)

• "obtain a reasonable," (missing a noun - grade?)
• "said body until it's grade" -> "until its grade"
• "should also regulate an economic activities" -> "...regulate all economic..."? "...regulate and [something] all economic..."?
• "national law and they will grade institution of medical care, however in" -> "national law, and assign grades to all institutions of medical care. However, in"
• delete appropriately:"may not administrate private medical providers should they fail to meet national standards", then add a comma
• "a lawsuit" -> "(a) lawsuit(s)"
• "against the said institution" then add a comma
• "successful, then another company"
• then ideally I'd like to add "or organisation of equally powerful members which have democratically agreed to operate the service in question", and pursue the creation of such groups with another bill
• "found, then relevant"
• Suggested amendment: "...take over all assets. [color=green](A.) which are, or may during their period of serviceable application be, necessary to meet current or expected healthcare needs, and whose appropriation would not be too burdensome to the public health service; or (B.) which are relevant to providing healthcare services and would cause a net gain of total wealth for the public health service or some component of same which can legally accept them.

(xi) "Ofmed reserves the right to end..." -> suggested amendment (may be perceived as political): "Ofmed must review such contracts at least every 4 years, and must end..."

(xi) not political: "Aurentinian" -> "Aurentine"

(xi) other suggested amendment at the end: "...work, though this status may later be made available to groups which are proven to have given a similar degree and intensity of service to the cause of public health in Aurentina, giving preference to the work which benefits those in most desparate need of physical and/or psychological intervention."

[Mytannion]

Any thoughts, RG Senators? Sorry if this is too distracting.

Having read through your suggested amendments I would agree on all, especially with the compelling case made to provide GRS in order to directly prevent suicide, something I was at first skeptical about (I had other ideas on how we could approach it, but now agree with the amendment instead). I think we should let the bill go to vote, see the outcome and then either redraft it and resubmit or if it passes just make all the relevant amendments.

[Free South Califas]

Thanks for your support and open mindedness

Normally I'm inclined to fight a bill until it's good law, but that is an acceptable move to me, given that it's second on the queue, and one of the centrists may have taken to calling me a filibuster. A shoe I'll wear if it fits, BTW. (OOC: They must not have seen my sig )

Regardless, I'll copy my post over to my drafting office, where I note that Red-Green senators have free posting rights; as well as the Communist Party forum so that my Party can talk about it more there as necessary. I'm guessing we can get a pretty good leftist turnout on the amendments or redraft when the time comes, though I'm not inclined to either support or meaningfully oppose the bill as currently written and queued.

This all calls to mind another legislative priority, general senatorial practices. By the time our amendments/redraft can come to vote, it is possible that the senate will have limited the ability to move urgent bills to the top of the quorum. Food for thought, is all.

[Fulflood]

I agree with Yanalias above argument. As such, I announce my candidacy for Red Green ambassador to the Liberal Democrats!

Hello then!
I hope our parties can work to cooperate in the Senate in the best way possible.

[Mollary]

Okay...sorry for my absence (the vote was supposed to be held at 19:00 UTC), but circumstances have kept me from the forums.

Yanalia is now the Election Commissioner and appointed by default. I would ask Mollary if you could hold the position of Chief Whip until the end of the term (the 24th of this month), if not then I understand completely and would only ask that you remain for this next vote, if you're fine with that?

I now call the vote on joining The Workers' Front coalition. For those of you unaware, the Progress Coalition has fallen apart. The P-C leadership has expelled socialists and communists from attending the next coalition, so The Red-Greens, Communist Party, and the United Socialist Labour Party have been in coalition talks for the past few days.




Please read the linked quote below for details on the coalition before you vote.

Click on the quote link for the platform, logo and how the positions will be chosen.

The vote shall be decided by simple majority and end on 16 June 2013 at 19:00 UTC.
The election commissioner is hereby charged with holding the count in complete impartiality.
The Chief Whip shall contact all party members and inform them of the vote, and inform the Chairman when they have completed doing so. There is no whip for attendance on this vote.

I hereby submit a blank vote to maintain the impartiality of my position as Chairman. If there is a tie at the end of the voting period, I may consider changing my vote to break that tie.

OK, I'll stay for the rest of my term.

[Yanalia]

I'm pleased by the activity in this thread as of late. We used to be less active.

[Mollary]

I'm pleased by the activity in this thread as of late. We used to be less active.

Probably all the calamity with coalitions and things falling to pieces.

[Polvia]

I'm pleased by the activity in this thread as of late. We used to be less active.

I am as well. I hope this is the start of a much greater trend of party activity.

[Potenco]

We need to work on a health care bill with both the far and moderate left along with select centrists. We should enlist support from us, The CP, USLP, The Liberal Democrats and some of the Progressive Conservatives.

[Potenco]

I agree with your suggested amendment but have these further issues with the bill. I ask anyone who agrees with me to consider drafting an amendment omnibus, or perhaps a comprehensive redraft. Or we can redraft it (it has some small grammar and style issues like most bills) with just the vital life-and-death stuff in it (like Gender Reassignment Surgery to directly prevent suicides), and draft an amendment omnibus for the more political stuff. Any thoughts, RG Senators? Sorry if this is too distracting.

Universal Healthcare Act

Urgency: High

Originally Written by: Chestaan[C]

Firstly Modified by: Lemanrussland[LD]

Secondly Modified by Wolfmanne[PC]

Original bill Co-Sponsored by: Shrillland[RG], Argorland[TR], Maklohi Vai[LD], TerraPublica[C], Wolfmanne[PC]

First Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Greater Pokarnia[C], Othelos[PC], Soviet Canuckistan[LD], Britcan[TR], Chestaan[C]

Second Modified bill Co-Sponsored by: Chestaan[C]

Recognising that healthcare is a right that must be provided to all in our great and unnamed nation.

Realising that this can only be achieved by providing low cost and easily accessible hospital care to all our citizens.

Understanding that many citizens may be unable to afford the care of a GP and that these people must be provided for.

Stating that in the long run, such provisions will only benefit our people and also the economy, as a healthy population is a necessity for a healthy economy.

This Act establishes the following:

(i) A national healthcare system will provide free healthcare at the point of service to all citizens. Expenses shall be covered by government taxation revenue. All health care includes, but is not limited to: hospital care, GP care, dentistry, orthodontics, specialist care, psychiatric care, all necessary surgery, home help, all necessary treatments, counselling, prescription mecidines etc.

(ii) The National Health Board (NHB), subordinate to the Ministry of Health, shall be set up to oversee our healthcare system. The responsibilities of the NHB include, but are not limited to, the building of government hospitals, the hiring of medical staff, the setting of standards for our health industry, and the regulation of all healthcare professionals.

(iii) All citizens shall be free to purchase private health services, outside of the national health system, if they wish to do so.

(iv) Non-critical medical procedures (for example: sex changes or non-imperative plastic surgery) are not covered by the national healthcare system. Citizens seeking those kinds of operations will have to go to the private sector.

(v) A series of National Health Board Regional Authorities will be established to commission health services on behalf of the NHB and to ensure that regional priorities can be set. Each individual National Health Board Regional Authorities shall be run by a board consisting of health care professionals and paid Directors to ensure that the balance between a professional opinion and monetary pragmatism is maintained. The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to be allocated a budget set by the National Health Board, based upon need, which is factored by things such as population, sickness rate etc.

(vi) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to co-ordinate strategy for primary care, secondary and emergency medical services to Ambulance Services Trusts and Medical Care Trusts but shall not take a direct role, for that is the responsibility of the relevant trusts. They are to provide tertiary care and quaternary care, plus maintain an Air Ambulance and if necessary, a Sea/River Ambulance.

(vii) The National Health Board Regional Authorities are to have a series of trusts under them: the Ambulance Service Trusts and the Medical Care Trusts. The Ambulance Services Trusts shall provide emergency medical services within their assigned area. Ambulance Services Trusts will be overseen by a board of Paramedics, executive and non-executive Directors. The Medical Care Trusts shall oversee all primary and secondary care within their assigned area, with all polyclinics, hospitals, clinics, general practices etc coming under them. The Medical Care Trusts will be overseen by a board of medical professionals, executive and non-executive Directors.

(viii) The Office of Medical Care and Ambulance Service Regulation (Ofmed) is established to regulate the NHB Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care. Ofmed shall inspect all Regional Authorities, trusts and institutions of medical care, on behalf of the National Health Board, the Ministry of Health and the Senate to ensure that they meet regulations by these three bodies. The National Health Board shall establish a series of gradings that Ofmed inspectors will award once they conclude an inspection. If a Regional Authority, trust or institution of medical care fails to obtain a reasonable, Ofmed are permitted to step in and temporarily administrate the said body until it's grade is raised to a more acceptable level. Ofmed shall also regulate an economic activities by the medical private sector to ensure that they comply with national law and they will grade institution of medical care, however in the event of a poor standard of care, Ofmed may not administrate private medical providers should they fail to meet national standards but it may issue a lawsuit against the said institution and should the lawsuit be successful, then another company is to step in and take over. If no buyer can be found, then relevant NHB trust shall take over all assets.

(xi) The National Health Board Regional Authorities, the Medical Care Trusts and the Ambulance Services Trusts are permitted to contract or subcontract qualified providers from the private sector and charities in order to improve efficiency. Ofmed reserves the right to end a contract or subcontract by a private medical provider if it fails to improve efficiency in the service that it's providing. The St John's Ambulance in Aurentina and the Aurentinian Red Cross are to provide additional staffing and vehicles to the National Health Board Regional Authorities and the Ambulance Service Trusts and they shall receive special status in recognition for their work.

---

The new Universal Health Care Act, with additional clauses authored by I and approved by Chestaan, the original writer. It contains clause to improve efficiency and to ensure that standards of care are high. The aim of the additional clauses to ensure that medical professionals and patients have a say in how the health care system is run, increased regionalisation to ensure that the medical needs of individual regions are met, clarification on who provides Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Care and guidelines for the regulation of the public and private medical systems by Ofmed, the regulator that will also be established and also regarding how the health care budget is divided and used.

EDIT: Accidentally used the version with co-pay, removed the co-pay clause.

Problems
(iv) It is discriminatory against transsexual people to dismiss "sex changes" as unnecessary and relegate them to private burdens in order to receive necessary surgical procedures. (Understanding medical consensus only takes a quick search.) When I say "necessary" I refer to the life-or-death scenario implied by the need for Gender Reassignment Surgery (GRS), which is now known to significantly decrease rates of suicide. We ought not take this blood on our hands.

(v) Given that again life and death decisions are at hand, I'd rather like the local community to be able to elect at least one delegate to these boards as well, ideally with an explicit ratified mandate and instant recall. Again ideally, the balance should consider these as an important part of the boards.

(vii) Same, although in this case I would accept a strictly limited role for nonprofessional community input; or, better, a requirement that the community delegate have relevant professional and/or academic experience.

(viii)

• "obtain a reasonable," (missing a noun - grade?)
• "said body until it's grade" -> "until its grade"
• "should also regulate an economic activities" -> "...regulate all economic..."? "...regulate and [something] all economic..."?
• "national law and they will grade institution of medical care, however in" -> "national law, and assign grades to all institutions of medical care. However, in"
• delete appropriately:"may not administrate private medical providers should they fail to meet national standards", then add a comma
• "a lawsuit" -> "(a) lawsuit(s)"
• "against the said institution" then add a comma
• "successful, then another company"
• then ideally I'd like to add "or organisation of equally powerful members which have democratically agreed to operate the service in question", and pursue the creation of such groups with another bill
• "found, then relevant"
• Suggested amendment: "...take over all assets. [color=green](A.) which are, or may during their period of serviceable application be, necessary to meet current or expected healthcare needs, and whose appropriation would not be too burdensome to the public health service; or (B.) which are relevant to providing healthcare services and would cause a net gain of total wealth for the public health service or some component of same which can legally accept them.

(xi) "Ofmed reserves the right to end..." -> suggested amendment (may be perceived as political): "Ofmed must review such contracts at least every 4 years, and must end..."

(xi) not political: "Aurentinian" -> "Aurentine"

(xi) other suggested amendment at the end: "...work, though this status may later be made available to groups which are proven to have given a similar degree and intensity of service to the cause of public health in Aurentina, giving preference to the work which benefits those in most desparate need of physical and/or psychological intervention."

Ill cosponsor

[Polvia]

So yeah, its been twenty-four hours since I declared presidential candidacy...no one else wanting to run?

[Yanalia]

So yeah, its been twenty-four hours since I declared presidential candidacy...no one else wanting to run?

I think we all support your candidacy.

[Polvia]

So yeah, its been twenty-four hours since I declared presidential candidacy...no one else wanting to run?

I think we all support your candidacy.

Shall I inform the coalition then?

[Yanalia]

I think we all support your candidacy.

Shall I inform the coalition then?

Certainly, go ahead. After all, something as important as a presidential candidate should be approved by the rest of the coalition also.

[Polvia]

I shall inform them then. I shall also allow an additional twenty-four hours for a member to contest the position. If a member does then I will reopen the matter for debate.

[Mytannion]

I must regrettably inform you of my resignation from the Party. I am becoming a member of the newly formed Market Socialist Party, which more accurately reflects my economic beliefs. Thanks for treating me well here!

[Polvia]

I must regrettably inform you of my resignation from the Party. I am becoming a member of the newly formed Market Socialist Party, which more accurately reflects my economic beliefs. Thanks for treating me well here!

Alright, thank you for being with us.

On another matter. I have a something to present.
I would like to add a "minimum program" to our OP to give people a better view of our positions. This is what I have so far. What is the opinion of the party? Any suggested additions or changes?

Minimum Program

(1) The establishment of an extensive public transit network that is cheap and accessible to all people in the nation and at a reasonable price that makes it a cheap alternative to automobile transit.
(2) The establishment of a green electrical grid to provide reliable renewable energy to all people, and the nationalization of all utilities.
(3) The nationalization of all oil and fossil fuel resources, the establishment of a government plan with set dates for the elimination of the use of, and reliance upon, nonrenewable resources and replaced by the use of renewable resources and green alternative energy sources.
(4)The granting of a state funded free education system and a university system free from tuition fees for students, and the establishment of universal allowances to all students that adequately cover such costs as food, room and board, utilities and other costs of living.
(5) Legislation granting workers the rights to the democratic control of the means of production and the establishment of a Socialist economic system, as a replacement for Capitalism, whose institutions are under the democratic control of those who work them and the protection of the rights to unionize for all working peoples.
(6) The establishment of a national minimum living-wage that shall cover all costs of living and grant enough for an adequate standard of living, and for the establishment of a minimum income, or basic income or equivalent benefits, for all people including unemployed persons.
(7) The guaranteeing of all people to a publically-funded universal medical care, dental care, medicine, et cetera that is free at point of delivery.
(8) The establishment of a heavily progressive income tax and the reduction or elimination of all regressive taxes such as sales taxes and excise taxes.
(9) A pension program that grants a minimum living income to all pensioners and people with disabilities, as well as free at point of delivery in-home care to the aged and disabled.

Free Vote Topics

(1) The Red-Greens take no official stance on the regulation of weapons such as firearms.
(2) The Red-Greens take no official stance on the legalization of drugs or narcotics.
(3) The Red-Greens take no official stance on the use of nuclear energy.

[Venaleria]

So sorry I haven't been here in a while guys! I got caught up with lots of busy work.

Could someone explain what we're discussing?

[Polvia]

So sorry I haven't been here in a while guys! I got caught up with lots of busy work.

Could someone explain what we're discussing?

The Progress Coalition collapsed. The President expelled us and the Communist Party for supporting the WEA, and claimed we had "betrayed the coalition". We are now a part of a new coalition called the United Workers' Front with the Communist Party and the United Socialist Labour Party. That is a very brief summary.

[Venaleria]

So sorry I haven't been here in a while guys! I got caught up with lots of busy work.

Could someone explain what we're discussing?

The Progress Coalition collapsed. The President expelled us and the Communist Party for supporting the WEA, and claimed we had "betrayed the coalition". We are now a part of a new coalition called the United Workers' Front with the Communist Party and the United Socialist Labour Party. That is a very brief summary.

Fun stuff. Alright, what can I do to help?

[Pesda]

I'm joining this party.

[Polvia]

I'm joining this party.

Welcome to the party.

[Yanalia]

I am writing taxation enforcement legislation, if any party member would like to help.