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Senate Approves Single-Payer Health Bill, But Gov. Likely to Veto

The State Senate has approved a measure that would create a single-payer, universal healthcare system in California. Critics call it socialized medicine, but supporters say it’s the gold standard for

Senate Approves Single-Payer Health Bill, But Gov. Likely to Veto

The State Senate has approved a measure that would create a single-payer, universal healthcare system in California. Critics call it socialized medicine, but supporters say it’s the gold standard for healthcare reform. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.

Under the single-payer system, all private and public money currently spent on health insurance would be pooled. The state would use that money to run one healthcare plan for all Californians.

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Donna Gerber is with the California Nurses Association. She says a single-payer system would be run like Medicare.

Gerber : It leaves the private hospital and doctor and other providers in place -- it simply takes the insurance industry out, which also in the process saves 30 percent of every healthcare dollar.

Governor Schwarzenegger doesn’t like the idea. He vetoed a similar measure last year, and says he’ll do the same thing if the bill hits his desk again.

Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.