Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform: How We Can Achieve Affordable Medical Care for Every American and Make Our Jobs Safer

Chat with Howard Dean about his new book. Hosted by Jason Rosenbaum. Tuesday, 3:00pm ET, over at FDL.

What would real healthcare reform look like? And how can everyday Americans trump big money and put healthcare back on track?

Howard Dean speaks out."The success of healthcare reform legislation rises and falls on whether the American public is allowed to opt into a universally available public healthcare program, like Medicare, or not. If Congress issues a bill that gives Americans a public option, then there will be real healthcare reform. If not, we could be back fighting about it for another 20 years before anybody tries again."–Howard Dean

Americans have pondered how to reform healthcare since the days of Harry Truman. But, for most Americans, little has changed—except that healthcare costs have soared, health insurance companies have grown richer, and, today, even those Americans who pay dearly for health insurance frequently find that their policies don’t adequately cover them when they need their coverage most.

Something has got to give. In his bold, new book, Howard Dean—the physician and former governor widely credited for reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections—tells Americans what needs to be done to successfully reform healthcare. One key, he writes, is to offer Americans the option to participate in a public healthcare program, much like Medicare. “America has had ‘socialized’ medicine since 1964,” says Dean. “It’s called Medicare; it covers every American over 65, and the majority of them are happy with the program. The rest of America deserves a similar option.”

In this straight-talking guide to rising above today’s healthcare crisis, Dean spells out:

* What Obama’s healthcare plan is all about
* How other countries handle healthcare
* Which special interests are standing in the way of progress and why
* How healthcare reform will help American businesses prosper
* Why Americans need choice–between private or public health coverage

Millions of Americans lack health insurance; millions more pay for coverage that doesn’t protect them from serious illness; and the status quo leaves Americans at the mercy of corporate interests. In this persuasive argument from a passionate political strategist, Americans learn how to take back the healthcare reins.

Howard Dean—physician and former chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)—served six terms as Governor of Vermont before running for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in the nation’s 2004 election. Dean also founded Democracy for America (DFA), the grassroots organization that organizes activists in local communities, trains campaign staff, and endorses progressive candidates. Recently, Dean launched a DFA healthcare reform campaign—pushing legislators to give Americans a public healthcare option. While he was Vermont’s governor, the state expanded its universal healthcare program for children and pregnant women—and also lowered its public debt, balanced its budget 11 times, and reduced income taxes. (Amazon.com)