Physicians for a National Health Program

Coming Events:
PNHPWA Monthly Meeting - Wed, June 17th, 7pm

Calendars
June
July

Remembering
Dr. George Martin

George M. Martin, M.D. passed away on December 17, 2022 at the age of 95. A renowned geroscientist, George was devoted to nurturing the next generation of physicians and scientists. He was equally passionate about the need for universal health care and was an active member of the Washington Chapter of PNHP.

The George M. Martin Student Scholarship Fund provides financial support for medical students to participate in PNHP conferences and events, in the belief and hope that the next generation of physicians will realize the vision of a national health care plan that provides health care for all.
Donate to the GM Student Scholarship Fund Here

So far, more than $20,000 has been donated

PNHP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your donation to this scholarship fund is tax-deductible; our tax ID# is 04-2937697.

PNHPWA Facebook

PNHPWA YouTube

Click to join PNHPWA Email List

HJM is a blog that replaces Don McCanne's Quote of the Day. It arrives in your mailbox 2-3 times/week focusing on an issue or recent report of current interest, with commentary by Don and other health policy experts.
Read recent HJM's and Subscribe here

State Organizations
advocating for
Health Care
is a Human Right

-Health Care for All Washington
-Health Care is a Human Right - Washington
-Vermont Workers Center
-Health Care for All Oregon
-Maine People's Alliance
-Whole Washington

Organizations advocating for single payer, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in Western Washington

*Health Care for All -WA
*Progressive Democrats of America
*Health Care is a Human Right - WA
*Socialist Alternative
*Washington Community Action Network
*Backbone Campaign
*Whole Washington

Coalition Partners

Health Care is a Human Right -
Washington

Washington Against Nuclear Weapons

Information
MORE COMING SOON

It's Time to Add Your Voice

Since 1987 Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves mobilizing physicians, other health care workers, and the general public to actively advocate for enactment of a national, comprehensive, high quality, non-profit, publicly-funded health care system serving all residents of the United States.

John Geyman, MD
1931 - 2026

It is with great sadness and enormous respect that we celebrate the life of Dr. John Geyman who passed away May 28 at age 95. John was a true renaissance man; physician, teacher, writer and advocate for health justice. Born in Santa Barbara, California in 1931, he graduated from Princeton in 1952, then served 3 years in the Navy and received his MD from the University of California, San Franciso in 1960. After a 2-week preceptorship in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Dunsmuir, CA, he went on to do two years of General Practice in Santa Rosa. He returned to Mount Shasta with his wife Gene and family and practiced rural, general practice for 5 years before returning to Santa Rosa to complete a Family Medicine Residency.

John started his academic career at the University of Utah and then at UC Davis culminating his career as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which he led from 1976 to 1990 during an era of rapid growth in its faculty size. He moved to San Juan Island, Washington to provide care to the islands' residents in his Family Practice in 1991. John founded the first research journal focused on family medicine - the Journal of Family Practice.

John was an author who wrote from his heart about his rural practice, his wife Gene's battle with Alzheimer’s and his passion for flying his small plane. When he retired in 1997, he became a staunch supporter and advocate for meaningful health care reform - he served on the national Board of Physicians for a National Health Program and a term as its President. His plethora of books grace the shelves of his many mentees and admirers. HIs love of aviation dovetailed with his remote medical practice and flew for years with the Eagles, a volunteer group of pilots who flew many patients to their appointments for specialized treatment.

Most importantly to our Washington State Chapter of PNHP, he was a guide and mentor to many of us who were blessed to know him. When our chapter was started in 2006, he became our Honorary President and the inspiration for the John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award he handed out at our annual public meetings at UW's Kane Hall. His kind, gentle manner made those who met him feel as if they had a great friend and guide from the moment you shook his hand and looked into his eyes.

We will dearly miss John, but we will forever cherish our memories and his undying support and solidarity with the cause of universal health care for all. "Everyone in, nobody out".

A few of John's books:

PNHPWA June 17th, 7:00pm Monthly Meeting

"Why and How Healthcare Workers and Students
can Organize and Mobilize for Healthcare Justice"

with Kshama Sawant

PNHP Washington and special guest former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant dug into the importance of mobilizing medical professionals and health professional students in advocating for US healthcare justice.

Those of us on the frontlines of healthcare have a unique perspective into the lives of our patients and the population's health as a whole. Although a large majority of healthcare professionals support single-payer and M4A, we have made insufficient progress in getting health reform passed.

This discussion was lively as we are aware of our healthcare system's inequity and current deteriorating performance. Kshama emphasized the critical need organize the working class to elect leaders who will take up the fight to pass comprehensive health legislation, despite the pushback from many our "progressive" politicians.

Note: we are hosting Kshama Sawant as a guest speaker with lots of experience advocating for justice issues. As PNHPWA is a 501(C)3 organization we don’t formally support candidates during an election.

Watch the meeting here

Some Announcements:

1) Sign-On letter for Organisations and Individuals: National Single Payer's Declaration of Independence from the Medical Industrial Complex

2) WPSR's Annual Health Justice Benefit Gala & Dinner will be on Saturday, Sept 19th at the Brockey Conf. Center, South Seattle College in West Seattle.
3) PNHP's Annual Meeting will be held in Chicago, Nov 13-15, focusing on strategy after we see what happens in the Mid-Term Elections.

Recent Events:

PNHPWA May 20th Monthly Meeting
"US Health Care Providers Moving to Practice in Canada"
Karen Palmer, and Khati Hendry, and John Kearney

This was a very interesting meeting with lots of audience participation. We learned a lot about differences and some similarities of the Canadian and US health care systems.

Main contributors were Karen Palmer MPH, MS, an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC. She's a health policy analyst, health systems researcher, and consultant for over 35 years.Since 2006 she has been a Policy Adviser to Canadian Doctors for Medicare supporting their efforts to strengthen Canada’s Medicare system and as Board Advisor to Physicians for a National Health Program.

Dr. Khati Hendry, MD, is a family physician. She was trained at UC San Francisco and in Seattle, and served community healthcenters in the SF Bay Area for 24 years. She moved to Canada from the US in 2024 through the auspices of HealthMatchBC. In Canada, she worked in a group practice while continuing administrative and teaching roles.

Dr Hendry was Boarded in Family Practice in both the US and Canada, has been an advocate for universal health care on both sides of the border, and now holds dual citizenship. She shared her experiences practicing in the US and Canada and described the pathway for physicians now interested in working in BC.

Dr. John Kearney, MD, is a recent graduate of the University of Washington Medical School. While there, his classmates elected him President of the Medical School student body. After graduating John was elected President of PNHP Wshington State Chapter.

John kicked off by discussing recent news articles, data on trends about providers moving from the US to practice in Canada, speaking to current practices in the US and "moral injury" working within the US system.

All shared their thoughts and experiences, followed by a very lively discussion dealing with strengths and weaknesses of the two systems.
View a Video of the Meeting Here

PNHP March 24th Webinar "Moral Injury in Medicine: The Human Costs of Practicing in a Profit-Driven System"

PNHP National hosted a Webinar on March 24th on the results of the survery of more than 1200 providers about the problem of limitations of providing their patients with the treatment they need because of constraints of for-profit insurance and their workplace that puts pressure on them to withhold the care their patients need to save costs to the busineses.

It reported what physicians shared, key themes, and what the data reveals about the financialization of healthcare; and provided concrete ways you can engage with our report — from using the findings in local advocacy and publications to organizing with colleagues to build collective power. This isn’t just a presentation of findings. It’s a launch point for action! You can read the full report here
View a Video of the Webinar Here

Ask to be placed on Congresswoman Pramila's Jayapal's email list here

Pramila knew we need a way to turn our anger, fear, and frustration into action and progress. That’s exactly why she launched The Resistance Lab, an in-depth organizing training to build our movement and give you the tools you need in this moment. The Resistance Lab is a series of trainings that are developed specifically for this moment. We look at how non-violent movements around the world have responded to leaders who seize power in authoritarian ways and the most effective tools and tactics to utilize in these moments. We offer frameworks to understand this moment at home, and incorporate interactive conversation with others to help create community and build our resistance movement. The scary truth is that democracies fall in a matter of months. So this is an immediate, urgent matter – and we need to quickly build our capacity to resist. Register link & info here

Things You Can Do Now

There are potentially disastrous things going on in Washington DC that may well diminish the access to health care that we do have. Click on this toolkit several of our allies put together for contacting our representatives to ask them to help stop attacks on Medicaid. Here is a Medicaid defense resource list. You can find a Congressional directory at this link: House Telephone Directory

PNHP Releases Research Report titled “Taking Advantage: How Corporate Health Insurers Harm America’s Seniors.” You can download the an interactive PDF version of the report. Lots of important info here to help us in our work. Spread the word & PDF link.

"Taking Advantage: How Corporate Health Insurers HARM America's Seniors"

Delays. Denials. Unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Everywhere people with so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans turn, they encounter barriers to the care they need—and the care their physicians have prescribed. Join us to learn about the many ways that corporate health insurers harm seniors and people with disabilities—and how YOU can fight back.

Our program included:

* Sen. Elizabeth Warren urging advocates (and her fellow legislators) to stand up and reclaim Medicare as a public program
* Dr. Ed Weisbart presenting a new report on the harm caused by Medicare Advantage corporations, researched by Physicians for a National Health Program
* Personal stories of patients and physicians who have been harmed by Medicare Advantage corporations

We also had suggestions on how YOU can take action to end the abuses of corporate health insurance, dramatically improve the traditional Medicare program, and put the U.S. on a path to a Medicare-for-All system that brings everybody in and leaves nobody out. You can watch the video of the Webinar here

New - PNHP National Calendar - click here to see what other PNHP chapters are offering online in terms of webinars.

PNHP Celebrates 35 Years of Activism

Since 1988, PNHP has been organizing so that everyone in the US has the health care they need. Watch this 5 minute video reflecting that 37 years of activism
PNHP Landmark Study!
PNHP has published a groundbreaking report—developed by our policy committee and reviewed by independent health policy experts—that quantifies the extent of Medicare Advantage overpayments. Our research and this report estimate that Medicare Advantage plans overcharge taxpayers by a minimum of 22% (or $88 billion) per year, and potentially by up to 35% (or $140 billion) per year. Read the study here.

Med Advantage Fact Sheet one pager to accompany surveys and petition
1.Medicare Beneficiary short Survey - online and print versions
2. Physicians short Survey - online and print versions
3. Medicare Advantage Petition for everyone to sign - to demand Congress and President Biden protect Medicare beneficiaries by cracking down on insurance company abuses and by significantly improving the traditional, public Medicare program

Join Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action. PSARA has been doing amazing andeffective organising work around all the social justice issues in our area for many years. It is leading the charge against Medicare in the Pacific Northwest, and indeed, buttressing efforts of other progressive health reform organisations across the country. Please take a look at the PSARA website and its monthly newsletter, The Retiree Advocate, and consider joining to help support its groundbreaking work

Chris Currie's updated eBook "A Medicare for All Q&A"- Click here

The George Martin Student Scholarship Fund now has more than $24,000 in contributions providing support for the 5 SNaHP Chapters in our region

PNHPWA Web Site - pnhpwashington.org
PNHPWA Email - pnhp.washington@gmail.com
PNHPWA YouTube Channel

Coalition Partner Websites
Health Care for All Washington
Health Care is a Human Right Washington
Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action
Whole Washington

Watch most PNHPWA Previous Monthly Meetings

PNHPWA YouTube Channel

About Us| Contact Us

		Coming Events: PNHPWA Monthly Meeting - Wed, June 17th, 7pm Calendars June July


Remembering Dr. George Martin George M. Martin, M.D. passed away on December 17, 2022 at the age of 95. A renowned geroscientist, George was devoted to nurturing the next generation of physicians and scientists. He was equally passionate about the need for universal health care and was an active member of the Washington Chapter of PNHP. The George M. Martin Student Scholarship Fund provides financial support for medical students to participate in PNHP conferences and events, in the belief and hope that the next generation of physicians will realize the vision of a national health care plan that provides health care for all. Donate to the GM Student Scholarship Fund Here So far, more than $20,000 has been donated PNHP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your donation to this scholarship fund is tax-deductible; our tax ID# is 04-2937697. PNHPWA Facebook PNHPWA YouTube Click to join PNHPWA Email List HJM is a blog that replaces Don McCanne's Quote of the Day. It arrives in your mailbox 2-3 times/week focusing on an issue or recent report of current interest, with commentary by Don and other health policy experts. Read recent HJM's and Subscribe here State Organizations advocating for Health Care is a Human Right -Health Care for All Washington -Health Care is a Human Right - Washington -Vermont Workers Center -Health Care for All Oregon -Maine People's Alliance -Whole Washington Organizations advocating for single payer, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All in Western Washington Health Care for All -WA Progressive Democrats of America Health Care is a Human Right - WA Socialist Alternative Washington Community Action Network Backbone Campaign Whole Washington Coalition Partners* Health Care is a Human Right - Washington Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Information MORE COMING SOON	It's Time to Add Your Voice Since 1987 Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves mobilizing physicians, other health care workers, and the general public to actively advocate for enactment of a national, comprehensive, high quality, non-profit, publicly-funded health care system serving all residents of the United States. John Geyman, MD 1931 - 2026 It is with great sadness and enormous respect that we celebrate the life of Dr. John Geyman who passed away May 28 at age 95. John was a true renaissance man; physician, teacher, writer and advocate for health justice. Born in Santa Barbara, California in 1931, he graduated from Princeton in 1952, then served 3 years in the Navy and received his MD from the University of California, San Franciso in 1960. After a 2-week preceptorship in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Dunsmuir, CA, he went on to do two years of General Practice in Santa Rosa. He returned to Mount Shasta with his wife Gene and family and practiced rural, general practice for 5 years before returning to Santa Rosa to complete a Family Medicine Residency. John started his academic career at the University of Utah and then at UC Davis culminating his career as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, which he led from 1976 to 1990 during an era of rapid growth in its faculty size. He moved to San Juan Island, Washington to provide care to the islands' residents in his Family Practice in 1991. John founded the first research journal focused on family medicine - the Journal of Family Practice. John was an author who wrote from his heart about his rural practice, his wife Gene's battle with Alzheimer’s and his passion for flying his small plane. When he retired in 1997, he became a staunch supporter and advocate for meaningful health care reform - he served on the national Board of Physicians for a National Health Program and a term as its President. His plethora of books grace the shelves of his many mentees and admirers. HIs love of aviation dovetailed with his remote medical practice and flew for years with the Eagles, a volunteer group of pilots who flew many patients to their appointments for specialized treatment. Most importantly to our Washington State Chapter of PNHP, he was a guide and mentor to many of us who were blessed to know him. When our chapter was started in 2006, he became our Honorary President and the inspiration for the John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award he handed out at our annual public meetings at UW's Kane Hall. His kind, gentle manner made those who met him feel as if they had a great friend and guide from the moment you shook his hand and looked into his eyes. We will dearly miss John, but we will forever cherish our memories and his undying support and solidarity with the cause of universal health care for all. "Everyone in, nobody out". A few of John's books: PNHPWA June 17th, 7:00pm Monthly Meeting "Why and How Healthcare Workers and Students can Organize and Mobilize for Healthcare Justice" with Kshama Sawant PNHP Washington and special guest former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant dug into the importance of mobilizing medical professionals and health professional students in advocating for US healthcare justice. Those of us on the frontlines of healthcare have a unique perspective into the lives of our patients and the population's health as a whole. Although a large majority of healthcare professionals support single-payer and M4A, we have made insufficient progress in getting health reform passed. This discussion was lively as we are aware of our healthcare system's inequity and current deteriorating performance. Kshama emphasized the critical need organize the working class to elect leaders who will take up the fight to pass comprehensive health legislation, despite the pushback from many our "progressive" politicians. Note: we are hosting Kshama Sawant as a guest speaker with lots of experience advocating for justice issues. As PNHPWA is a 501(C)3 organization we don’t formally support candidates during an election. Watch the meeting here Some Announcements: 1) Sign-On letter for Organisations and Individuals: National Single Payer's Declaration of Independence from the Medical Industrial Complex 2) WPSR's Annual Health Justice Benefit Gala & Dinner will be on Saturday, Sept 19th at the Brockey Conf. Center, South Seattle College in West Seattle. 3) PNHP's Annual Meeting will be held in Chicago, Nov 13-15, focusing on strategy after we see what happens in the Mid-Term Elections. Recent Events: PNHPWA May 20th Monthly Meeting "US Health Care Providers Moving to Practice in Canada" Karen Palmer, and Khati Hendry, and John Kearney This was a very interesting meeting with lots of audience participation. We learned a lot about differences and some similarities of the Canadian and US health care systems. Main contributors were Karen Palmer MPH, MS, an Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC. She's a health policy analyst, health systems researcher, and consultant for over 35 years.Since 2006 she has been a Policy Adviser to Canadian Doctors for Medicare supporting their efforts to strengthen Canada’s Medicare system and as Board Advisor to Physicians for a National Health Program. Dr. Khati Hendry, MD, is a family physician. She was trained at UC San Francisco and in Seattle, and served community healthcenters in the SF Bay Area for 24 years. She moved to Canada from the US in 2024 through the auspices of HealthMatchBC. In Canada, she worked in a group practice while continuing administrative and teaching roles. Dr Hendry was Boarded in Family Practice in both the US and Canada, has been an advocate for universal health care on both sides of the border, and now holds dual citizenship. She shared her experiences practicing in the US and Canada and described the pathway for physicians now interested in working in BC. Dr. John Kearney, MD, is a recent graduate of the University of Washington Medical School. While there, his classmates elected him President of the Medical School student body. After graduating John was elected President of PNHP Wshington State Chapter. John kicked off by discussing recent news articles, data on trends about providers moving from the US to practice in Canada, speaking to current practices in the US and "moral injury" working within the US system. All shared their thoughts and experiences, followed by a very lively discussion dealing with strengths and weaknesses of the two systems. View a Video of the Meeting Here PNHP March 24th Webinar "Moral Injury in Medicine: The Human Costs of Practicing in a Profit-Driven System" PNHP National hosted a Webinar on March 24th on the results of the survery of more than 1200 providers about the problem of limitations of providing their patients with the treatment they need because of constraints of for-profit insurance and their workplace that puts pressure on them to withhold the care their patients need to save costs to the busineses. It reported what physicians shared, key themes, and what the data reveals about the financialization of healthcare; and provided concrete ways you can engage with our report — from using the findings in local advocacy and publications to organizing with colleagues to build collective power. This isn’t just a presentation of findings. It’s a launch point for action! You can read the full report here View a Video of the Webinar Here Ask to be placed on Congresswoman Pramila's Jayapal's email list here Pramila knew we need a way to turn our anger, fear, and frustration into action and progress. That’s exactly why she launched The Resistance Lab, an in-depth organizing training to build our movement and give you the tools you need in this moment. The Resistance Lab is a series of trainings that are developed specifically for this moment. We look at how non-violent movements around the world have responded to leaders who seize power in authoritarian ways and the most effective tools and tactics to utilize in these moments. We offer frameworks to understand this moment at home, and incorporate interactive conversation with others to help create community and build our resistance movement. The scary truth is that democracies fall in a matter of months. So this is an immediate, urgent matter – and we need to quickly build our capacity to resist. Register link & info here Things You Can Do Now There are potentially disastrous things going on in Washington DC that may well diminish the access to health care that we do have. Click on this toolkit several of our allies put together for contacting our representatives to ask them to help stop attacks on Medicaid. Here is a Medicaid defense resource list. You can find a Congressional directory at this link: House Telephone Directory PNHP Releases Research Report titled “Taking Advantage: How Corporate Health Insurers Harm America’s Seniors.” You can download the an interactive PDF version of the report. Lots of important info here to help us in our work. Spread the word & PDF link. "Taking Advantage: How Corporate Health Insurers HARM America's Seniors" Delays. Denials. Unexpected out-of-pocket costs. Everywhere people with so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans turn, they encounter barriers to the care they need—and the care their physicians have prescribed. Join us to learn about the many ways that corporate health insurers harm seniors and people with disabilities—and how YOU can fight back. Our program included: * Sen. Elizabeth Warren urging advocates (and her fellow legislators) to stand up and reclaim Medicare as a public program * Dr. Ed Weisbart presenting a new report on the harm caused by Medicare Advantage corporations, researched by Physicians for a National Health Program * Personal stories of patients and physicians who have been harmed by Medicare Advantage corporations We also had suggestions on how YOU can take action to end the abuses of corporate health insurance, dramatically improve the traditional Medicare program, and put the U.S. on a path to a Medicare-for-All system that brings everybody in and leaves nobody out. You can watch the video of the Webinar here New - PNHP National Calendar - click here to see what other PNHP chapters are offering online in terms of webinars. PNHP Celebrates 35 Years of Activism Since 1988, PNHP has been organizing so that everyone in the US has the health care they need. Watch this 5 minute video reflecting that 37 years of activism PNHP Landmark Study! PNHP has published a groundbreaking report—developed by our policy committee and reviewed by independent health policy experts—that quantifies the extent of Medicare Advantage overpayments. Our research and this report estimate that Medicare Advantage plans overcharge taxpayers by a minimum of 22% (or $88 billion) per year, and potentially by up to 35% (or $140 billion) per year. Read the study here. Med Advantage Fact Sheet one pager to accompany surveys and petition 1.Medicare Beneficiary short Survey - online and print versions 2. Physicians short Survey - online and print versions 3. Medicare Advantage Petition for everyone to sign - to demand Congress and President Biden protect Medicare beneficiaries by cracking down on insurance company abuses and by significantly improving the traditional, public Medicare program Join Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action. PSARA has been doing amazing andeffective organising work around all the social justice issues in our area for many years. It is leading the charge against Medicare in the Pacific Northwest, and indeed, buttressing efforts of other progressive health reform organisations across the country. Please take a look at the PSARA website and its monthly newsletter, The Retiree Advocate, and consider joining to help support its groundbreaking work Chris Currie's updated eBook "A Medicare for All Q&A"- Click here The George Martin Student Scholarship Fund now has more than $24,000 in contributions providing support for the 5 SNaHP Chapters in our region PNHPWA Web Site - pnhpwashington.org PNHPWA Email - pnhp.washington@gmail.com PNHPWA YouTube Channel Coalition Partner Websites Health Care for All Washington Health Care is a Human Right Washington Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action Whole Washington Watch most PNHPWA Previous Monthly Meetings PNHPWA YouTube Channel About Us\| Contact Us