#9 Support universal access to quality health care (Res. #2009-629)CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE MEMORANDUM
August 10, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM:Rebecca Smith, Management Assistant
SUBJECT: Action on a resolution supporting universal access to quality health care
(File Resolution No. 2009-629)
Request
Councilmembers Yuri Rashkin and Thomas McDonald asked that a resolution regarding
universal access to quality health care be added to an upcoming Council agenda.
Recommendation
Staff has no recommendation.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve file resolution 2009-629 supporting universal access to quality health
care.
Background
Universal access to health care has been a nationwide topic of discussion for many
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years. Recently President Obama and the 111 Congress have begun seriously
examining this idea and many proposals have become available for consideration by
our federal legislators.
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Approximately 45 million Americans are without health insurance in the United States.
Most individuals without health insurance are in working families and are unable to
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access insurance through their employer or another family member.
This resolution demonstrates the Council’s support for universal access to quality health
care for all Americans and encourages our Wisconsin Congressional delegation to
examine the health care proposals before them to ensure they meet the needs of
Wisconsin residents and employers.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Assistant City Manager/Director of Administrative Services
Source
1
Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,
September 2008
FILE RESOLUTION NO. 2009-629
A Resolution supporting universal access to quality health care.
WHEREAS
, the Janesville City Council recognizes that it is increasingly difficult for many
residents to obtain quality health care and supports the concerted efforts of local jurisdictions
to encourage the United States Congress and other decision makers to design a rational
health care system; and
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WHEREAS
, about 45 million people in the U.S. lack health insurance; and
WHEREAS
, rising health-care costs have affected employers' ability to provide health care
benefits for their workers and have sharply increased the costs of doing business; and
WHEREAS
, employers are the principal source of health insurance in the United States,
providing health benefits for about 159 million people, or about 53% of all Americans;
however, the percentage of employers who offer such benefits has been falling with 69
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percent offering health coverage benefits in 2000, compared to 63 percent in 2008 ; and
WHEREAS
, since 1999, family premiums for employer-sponsored insurance have increased
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119%, while wages have increased 34% and inflation has increased 29%; and
WHEREAS
, most of the 45 million uninsured are in working families and do not have access
to employer-sponsored insurance and are unable to obtain it through another family
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member; and
WHEREAS
, unemployment within Rock County is increasing; therefore, more local families
do not have access to employer-sponsored insurance and are finding it difficult to obtain
affordable, private insurance; and
WHEREAS
, more than eight in ten of the uninsured are in low- or moderate-income families
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and most low- and moderate-income uninsured adults are not eligible for Medicaid; and
WHEREAS
, the uninsured suffer from negative health consequences due to their lack of
access to necessary medical care and are less likely to receive preventive care and services
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for major health conditions; and
WHEREAS
, 20,000 Americans die every year of preventable and/or treatable diseases
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because they are uninsured; and
WHEREAS
, the Janesville City Council desires a rational system for delivering quality health
care to ensure all Americans have access to these necessary services at a cost that is
reasonable to them and to their employers; and
WHEREAS
, several legislative proposals for universal health care are before the United
States Congress and the Janesville City Council encourages our Wisconsin Representatives
and Senators to examine these proposals carefully to ensure they meet the needs of
Wisconsin residents and employers;
NOW, THEREFORE, LET BE IT RESOLVED Bythe Common Council of the City of
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Janesville
, on this 24 day of August 2009 that every person in the United States should
have the right to health care of equal high quality. The U.S. Congress should enact legislation
to establish and implement this right and we request our Wisconsin delegation of legislators
to support universal access to quality health care.
Sources
1
Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, September
2008
2
Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 1999-2008
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Kaiser/HRET Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits, 2000-2008. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Consumer Price Index, U.S. City Average of Annual Inflation (April to April),
2000-2008; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted Data from the Current
Employment Statistics Survey, 2000-2008
Motion by:
ADOPTED:
Second by:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
APPROVED:
Brunner
McDonald
Perrotto
Eric Levitt, City Manager
Rashkin
Steeber
ATTEST:
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Proposed by: Councilmembers Rashkin and
McDonald
Prepared by: Management Assistant