Austin City Council Resolution

RESOLUTION NO. 20080807-050

WHEREAS, every person deserves access to affordable, quality health care; and

WHEREAS, the number of Americans without health insurance now exceeds 47 million, and approximately 20 percent of residents in the Austin area do not have health insurance; and

WHEREAS, millions of the Americans who have health insurance have coverage that is inadequate to pay the costs of a major illness, leading to financial ruin for many families; and

WHEREAS, managed care and other reform efforts have not been effective in containing health care costs; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that U.S. hospitals must devote almost twice as much of their budgets to billing and administration costs than do hospitals operating under Canada’s single payer system; and

WHEREAS, researchers have estimated that approximately $300 billion could be recovered by replacing private insurance companies with a single public payer; and

WHEREAS, the National Health Insurance Act, also known as the single payer Medicare-for-All bill (H.R. 676), would provide all individuals residing in the United States with access to medically necessary services, including prescription drugs and emergency care, and

WHEREAS, the U. S. Conference of Mayors recently approved a resolution supporting H.R. 676, and urging members of Congress to work towards its immediate enactment and the adoption of a process to ensure that health care providers justify any increase in health care costs; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:

That the City of Austin supports the United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676), endorses the resolution adopted by the U. S. Conference of Mayors, and calls upon Congress to work towards the immediate enactment of H.R. 676.

ADOPTED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2008