CITY-COUNTY SPECIAL RESOLUTION NO. , 2007

A SPECIAL RESOLUTION supporting the United States National Health Insurance Act and State legislation enacting universal publicly paid health insurance.

WHEREAS, everyone deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare; and

WHEREAS, more than 860,000 Hoosiers and 46 million Americans live with no health insurance, of which approximately one quarter of these individuals are children, even though over 80% of these families have at least one family member who is employed; and

WHEREAS, small and large businesses alike are finding it increasingly difficult to provide health insurance to their employees due to growing premiums, and even those employees that receive some health benefits are often under-insured, facing rising co-payments and deductibles, and lack sufficient coverage for vital care and medications; and

WHEREAS, the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the nation is due to prolonged illness and medical bills, and Indiana has one of the highest rates of medical bankruptcy in the country; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated by the Institute of Medicine that 18,000 people die every year due to lack of insurance and access to adequate health care; and

WHEREAS, United States Representatives John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich have introduced House Resolution 676 (HR 676), the United States National Health Insurance Act, which would provide necessary health care to all; and

WHEREAS, the Public Health Committee of the Indiana House of Representatives is also currently considering a proposal draft for universal publicly paid health care in Indiana; now, therefore:

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND OF MARION COUNTY, INDIANA:

SECTION 1. The Indianapolis City-County Council expresses its support for HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act and respectfully encourages elected federal officials to endorse and adopt the resolution.

SECTION 2. The Council further supports and endorses State legislation providing universal publicly paid health insurance for all Indiana residents.

SECTION 3. The Council directs the Clerk to send of a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, members of the Indiana Congressional Delegation, other members of Congress in positions of leadership in the House and Senate with jurisdiction over public health initiatives, the Governor of the State of Indiana, and other legislative officials as deemed appropriate.

SECTION 4. The Mayor is invited to join in this resolution by affixing his signature hereto.

SECTION 5. This resolution shall be in full force and effect upon adoption and compliance with IC 36-3-4-14.

Representative Jane Doe
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Doe:

Now that Democrats control Congress, the time is ripe for our four Long Island Democratic representatives to rally round a comprehensive solution for America’s failed, fragmented, irrational, cruel, wasteful, and costly health care system.

While the elderly and the disabled are covered by popular Medicare and the poor have Medicaid, most working families must rely on the shrinking value of employer-based private health insurance or they are among the 46.6 million who have no health insurance at all. This disarray persists even as we spend more than two trillion dollars a year on health care, two to three times per capita of any other country.

The President and a few states would address the problem with tax deductions for individuals who buy expensive private insurance. The administration admits these plans would only help 6% of the uninsured, mostly the rich, and would perpetuate the high administrative costs of private insurance- about ten times that of Medicare- and its enduring obligation to put corporate profit ahead of patient care.

Currently, unions worry about the affordability of adequate coverage and business struggles with the soaring costs of coverage while foreign competition, mostly countries with national health insurance, is totally free of that expense.

The comprehensive solution we urge you to now support is HR 676, the Conyers Medicare For All Bill. Huge savings would accrue from drastically simplified administration plus the proven efficiency of a universal risk pool. In the last Congress, 80 Democrats resisted well-financed opposition of the insurance industry and signed on as cosponsors of HR 676. Please let us know you are now ready to join them, or, if not, why not. We look forward to your response on this most pressing domestic issue.

Of all the forms of inequality ,injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.
Martin Luther King, 1966

Sincerely,

Your Name

---

A special thanks to Dr. Jim Bernstein for sending this letter to four Long Island Congresspeople

Use as is, or (better yet) add some details from your own experience and/or locale

---

Dear Senator / Representative,

I write as a constituent – and as a physician who serves our state – to express my support for single-payer national health insurance and to urge you to co-sponsor HR 676, the U.S. National Health Insurance Act.

As a physician, I see the results of our health care crisis every day. More than 46 million Americans are uninsured. Even for those lucky enough to have insurance, rising costs and deteriorating coverage cause more than one-in-four (28 percent) to go without needed care because they can’t afford it. Indeed, of the one million Americans bankrupted by medical bills annually, more than three-quarters had insurance when they got sick.

Single-payer national health insurance would save enough on administrative paperwork – more than $300 billion per year – to provide comprehensive coverage to all Americans. It would provide full choice of doctor and hospital for patients, and unleash physicians from arbitrary corporate dictates over patient care. It would control the health expenses currently crippling our economy and provide for a wholesome revitalization of our democratic values.

Please join with the 70 percent of Americans who support such a system and co-sponsor HR 676.

Sincerely,

Your Name

WHEREAS the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and its predecessors have through the years called for reform of health delivery systems in the United States to make them accessible to the entire population.

WHEREAS the 1971 General Assembly of the UPUSA called for a national health insurance “single payer” plan with the following words:
We find that our society is giving highest priority to the production and consumption of goods and to profit-making and the defense of wealth to the neglect of basic human needs including health. We believe that good health is of the nation’s most valuable resources, important not only to the well-being of individuals but also to the nation… .We believe the general public has direct responsibilities in redesigning and developing a comprehensive, publicly-oriented national health policy.

Therefore, the General Assembly recommends: There be developed a national policy leading to a comprehensive system of health care which shall:
a. Be accountable to the general public.
b. Make all services and benefits available to all persons in the United States.
c. Be administered by a single national health agency with power to enforce standards to provide the highest quality health care possible.

The Delivery of Health Services
a. We believe that the value of persons requires that each person have full access to essential services without regard to ability to pay and on terms that enhance the dignity of the individuals… .
b. We find our medical system to be preoccupied with disease and crisis care, which is costly in lives, social relationships, and money…
c. Therefore, the 183rd General Assembly (1971) recommends that:

i. Comprehensive health care for all persons include at least these elements: and in growth and development, nutrition, prevention of illness, periodic diagnostic evaluation, treatment of disease, extended and home nursing care, rehabilitation, long term care for chronic disorders, and the appropriate social and economic provisions to make these feasible in the life of a person and his household.

WHEREAS the negative conditions that resulted in the 1971 and subsequent General Assembly pronouncements have multiplied in recent years so that now almost 50 million persons are uninsured, another 50 million are underinsured, and still another 50 million are at risk to be uninsured because of the gradual collapse of employment-based insurance plans; while per capita annual health costs are higher than in any other country and yet the U.S. ranks only 13th amongst industrialized countries in quality of health care; while administrative costs are many times higher under managed care systems that in single payer systems such as the Medicare and Veterans Administration systems, while for the current per capita expenditure, the entire populace could be covered through a single payer system, including mental health and dental care without co-pays and deductibles.
,
WHEREAS we now have before the U.S. Congress a bill — HR 676 — that calls for single payer national health insurance and that embraces many of the principles set forth in our General Assembly pronouncements.

WHEREAS health care for the general population and for specific groups within the population as always been a concern of PHEWA and of all the PHEWA networks.

BE IT RESOLVED that:

PHEWA endorse HR 676, a single payer, “Medicare for all”, publicly funded, privately administered national health insurance program.

PHEWA work toward endorsement of HR 676 by the General Assembly of the PC (USA).

PHEWA encourage interfaith and ecumenical cooperation with the goal of obtaining passage of HR 676 by the congress and its signing by the President.

PHEWA send a copy of this resolution to Congressman John Conyers (D-MI), to the appropriate committee chairs of the U.S. Congress, and to the Stated Clerk, the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council , the Washington and United Nations offices, the Advisory Council on Social Witness Policy of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Presentations were made by members of Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan: Drs. Rob Stone, and Mary Mahern, by retired Bloomington Hospital CEO Mr. Bud Kohr, and by Cindy Lott for the board of the Monroe County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic. Many members of the public testified as well. The final vote was 7 in favor, none opposed, and 2 abstentions.

---

Resolution 06-16:
SUPPORTING STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION ENACTING UNIVERSAL PUBLICLY-PAID HEALTH INSURANCE

WHEREAS, over 46 million Americans, 860,000 Hoosiers and 15,000 Monroe County residents have no health insurance, and over 80% of these uninsured people live in families in which at least one family member works; and

WHEREAS, large and small businesses are having increasing difficulty providing health insurance to their employees, and this difficulty is adding to the number of uninsured; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Medicine estimates that 18,000 people die every year because they lack insurance and cannot access adequate health care; and

WHEREAS, The Institute of Medicine estimates that tens of millions of Americans are under-insured, lacking sufficient coverage for vital care and medications; and

WHEREAS, even those with adequate insurance are facing growing premiums,
co-payments and deductibles, as well as the fear that their insurance might be cancelled; and

WHEREAS, illness and medical bills are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the nation and Indiana has one of the highest rates of medical bankruptcy in the country; and

WHEREAS, this growing problem cannot be ignored any longer by our legislative bodies; and

WHEREAS, United States Representative John Conyers has introduced House Resolution 676, (HR 676), the United States National Health Insurance Act, which would provide healthcare to all; and

WHEREAS, a proposal for Universal Publicly Paid Health Care in Indiana will be introduced in the Indiana legislature in January 2007; and

WHEREAS, the Common Council passed Resolution 94-54 in 1994 calling for a universal health care system and since that time, the health care crisis has only worsened; and

WHEREAS, health care is a basic human right;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, MONROE COUNTY, INDIANA, THAT:

SECTION I. The Council supports the principle of universal publicly-paid health insurance that would provide health care to everyone at reasonable costs.

SECTION II. The Council supports universal publicly-paid health insurance that would provide for physician and hospital visits, pharmaceuticals, preventative care, dental care, long-term care, substance abuse treatment and mental health care without deductibles and co-payments, and would provide all patients and providers freedom of choice.

SECTION III. The Council supports and endorses HR 676 the United States National
Health Insurance Act and respectfully requests our elected federal officials to endorse and adopt HR 676.

SECTION IV. The Council supports and endorses State legislation providing for universal publicly-paid health insurance for all Indiana residents.

SECTION V. The Council directs the City Clerk to send a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, members of the Indiana Congressional Delegation, other members of the United States Congress in positions of leadership in the House and Senate and their committees with jurisdiction over public health, the Governor of Indiana and members of Bloomington’s delegation to the Indiana legislature, and other leaders of the State legislature as deemed appropriate.

SECTION VI. The Council directs that this resolution be posted on the City of Bloomington web site.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Bloomington, Monroe County, Indiana, upon this 6th day of December, 2006.

CHRIS STURBAUM, President | Bloomington Common Council

SIGNED and APPROVED by me upon this 7th day of December, 2006.

MARK KRUZAN, Mayor
City of Bloomington

ATTEST:

REGINA MOORE, Clerk
City of Bloomington

---

SYNOPSIS

This resolution is sponsored by Council members Tim Mayer, Andy Ruff, Chris Gaal, and Mike Diedhof, and documents the problem of access to affordable health care. The resolution points out that the growing cost of health insurance makes adequate care inaccessible to many, causes over 18,000 deaths in the country each year, brings about great suffering, triggers personal bankruptcy and stifles small businesses. Concluding that health care is a basic human right, the resolution supports the principle of universal publicly-paid health insurance that would provide care to everyone. The resolution supports a plan that would provide for physician and hospital visits, pharmaceuticals, preventative care, dental care, long-term care, and non-discriminatory mental health care without deductibles and co-payments, and would provide all patients and providers freedom of choice. Finally, the resolution supports federal and State legislative initiatives to implement universal publicly-paid health care.

The following resolution was introduced by Rep. Kucinich (Oh-10) to the Democratic Party.

---

Whereas, each citizen’s “pursuit of happiness” depends upon maintaining health; and

Whereas, a healthy economy depends upon a healthy and productive citizenry; and

Whereas, the present health system has abandoned 40 million Americans and forces 30 million to use only emergency, often too-late care; and

Whereas, many families access to health care driven into poverty by the high cost of premiums and high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs; and

Whereas, health insurance costs for small businesses have increased steadily since 1998 and are predicted to double over the next four years; and often force small businesses to hire part-time staff with no benefits, or to stop offering health insurance completely; and

Whereas, insurance companies, being businesses, must work to protect and increase profits even when doing so is to the detriment of the very health care they are meant to make possible; and

Whereas, the removal of the profit motive from the health care system would refocus the system on health; and

Whereas the removal of the profit motive from the health care system would refocus the system on health; and

Whereas, the U.S. pays more than all other industrialized countries for health care, but provides less coverage to fewer people; and

Whereas, the General Accounting Office concludes that if the U.S. shifted to a single payer system of universal coverage, “the savings in administrative costs would be more than enough to offset the cost” of providing health care to everyone; therefore be it…

Resolved, that the Democratic Party support the establishment of a universal single payer, national health care system in the U.S.; and be if further

Resolved, that such a system be publicly financed, but privately delivered; allow people to choose their own health care providers; provide preventive health care, dental care, mental health care, and affordable prescription drugs; and make health care available to everyone regardless of pre-existing conditions, status of employment, or income level.

The following resolution was introduced to the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

---

A concurrent resolution endorsing the National Health Insurance Act.

Whereas, every person in Kentucky and in the United States deserves access to affordable, quality health care; and

Whereas, there is a growing crisis in health care in the United States of America, manifested in rising health care costs, increased premiums, out-of-pocket spending, decreased international business competitiveness, and massive layoffs; and

Whereas, approximately 582,000 Kentuckians lacked health insurance in 2004; and

Whereas, those insured now often experience unacceptable medical debt and sometimes life-threatening delays in obtaining health care; and Whereas, one-half of all personal bankruptcies are due to illnesses or medical bills; and

Whereas, the increasing expense of Medicaid and the rising costs of insuring states employees and teachers can best be met not by limiting benefits, but by expanding them under a national, publicly-funded health insurance program; and

Whereas, the complex bureaucracy arising from our system of fragmented, for-profit, multi-payer system of health care financing consumes approximately thirty percent (30%) of the United States health care spending; and

Whereas, researches from Harvard University found that bureaucracy consumed more than $4 billion of Kentucky’s health care spending in 2003, which equals $8,216 per uninsured Kentucky resident; and

Whereas, the United State Representatives John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich have introduced H.R. 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act, in the United State House of Representatives for the 109th Congress, and this act would provide a universal, comprehensive, single payer system of high quality national health insurance;

Now, Therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein:

Section 1. The Kentucky General Assembly respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact the United States National Health Insurance Act sponsored by Representative Conyers.

Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the President of the United States and the members of the Kentucky Congressional Delegation.

INTRODUCED BY: List Sponsors (The more, the better!)

TITLE: National Health Insurance- Improved Medicare for All

WHEREAS, the number of Americans uninsured is in excess of 46.6 million and tens of millions more Americans are underinsured and growing¹;

WHEREAS, physicians have a moral imperative to advocate for a healthcare system in which all Americans have guaranteed access to high quality and affordable healthcare;

WHEREAS, business is increasingly withdrawing coverage from employees¹;

Whereas, the quality of practice for physicians is declining and the lack of control over the practice of medicine (e.g. reimbursements, procedures and formularies) is growing;

WHEREAS, the healthcare infrastructure is inadequate and deteriorating (e.g. reduction in number of emergency rooms², decrease in hospital beds³ and a decline in the ability to fulfill projected physician workforce requirements⁴);

WHEREAS, in the new global economy, American companies are at a competitive disadvantage, in part due to health care costs;

WHEREAS, our hodgepodge healthcare system is inadequate to meet homeland security threats (e.g. natural disasters, possible flu epidemics⁵ and terrorist attacks);

WHEREAS, universal health insurance would guarantee payment for all patients treated;

WHEREAS, the U.S. spends twice as much per capita in healthcare costs compared to other western democracies, yet fails to include all its citizens and fails to achieve equivalent healthcare statistics (e.g. life expectancy, infant mortality and vaccination rate)³;

WHEREAS, a single source government health insurance, i.e. Medicare, would reduce the vast sums of money spent on administrative costs that could more appropriately go to direct patient care⁶;

WHEREAS, medical malpractice premiums would decrease because settlements would not have to cover future medical expenses of the plaintiff;

WHEREAS, universal Medicare would increase choice of doctors and portability and eliminate job lock;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT Resolved: that the (Name of Organization) does hereby endorse and will support HR 676, United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act), which covers all medically necessary care for every American and guarantees meaningful physician input and/or negotiating power over all aspects of medical practice and the healthcare system;
and be it further Resolved: that the (Name of Organization) does hereby commit to encourage other medical groups to adopt the same policy and work together with other medical organizations work towards bringing this to reality.

Thanks to Harvey Fernbach for introducing a similar version of this resolution to the Maryland Medical Society.

---

<sup>1. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States; 2005, August 2006. Current Population Reports U.S. Census Bureau
2.”Hospital-Based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point,” Institute of Medicine, June 14, 2006
3. Health at a Glance- OECD Indicators 2005
4. “Physician Workforce Policy Guidelines for the U.S. 2000-2020,” Council on Graduate Medical Education, July 2004
5. National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan, Homeland Security Council, May 2006
6. Woolhandler, S., Campbell, T., and Himmelstein, D. “Costs of Health Care Administration in the United States and Canada.” New England Journal of Medicine 349:768-775, 2003</sup>

Resolution of the Lorain County Board

RESOLUTION NO. 05-189
March 16, 2006

In the matter of supporting the United States National Insurance Act — HB676 — “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All”

WHEREAS, the United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act) establishes the United States National Health Insurance Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and in U S. Territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as a primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care and mental health services; and

WHEREAS, this bill will prohibit an institution from participating in the Program unless it is public or nonprofit institution; and

WHEREAS, this bill allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations that actually deliver care in their own facilities to participate in the program; and

WHEREAS, this bill gives patients the freedom to choose from participating physicians and institutions; and

WHEREAS, this bill (prevents) a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this act. Allows such insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as a cosmetic surgery benefits; and

WHEREAS, this bill sets forth methods to pay hospitals and health professional for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization; and

WHEREAS, this bill authorizes appropriations and provides for appropriated sums to be paid for:
1) by reducing costly paperwork
2) by requiring a rational bulk procurement of medication
3) from existing source of government revenues for health care
4) increasing personal income taxes on the top five percent income earners
5) instituting a modest payroll tax
6) instituting a small tax on stock and bond transactions and;

WHEREAS, this bill requires the program to give first priority in retaining and job placement to individuals whose jobs are eliminated due to reduced administration; and

WHEREAS, this bill establishes a National Board of Universal Quality and Access to access to advise the Secretary and the Director to insure quality, access and affordability; and

WHEREAS, provides for the eventual integration of the health programs of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the Indian health Service into the Program.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Lorain County Board of Commissioners that we hereby support the United States National Insurance Act — HB 676 — “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All”, to ensure that all Americans, guaranteed by law, will have access to the highest quality, cost effective, health care regardless of an individuals’ employment, income, or health care status.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, we hereby Instruct the Clerk to send this resolution to the United States Senators and Representatives representing Lorain County and the Coalition to Project Healthcare

Warren County Commission
McMinnville, Tennessee

Regular Session
October 17, 2005

RESOLUTION ___

A RESOLUTION urging Warren County’s representatives
in the Congress of the United States to endorse, support and
work for the passage of HR 676, known as the United States
National Health Insurance Act.

WHEREAS Warren County taxpayers contribute to the financial support of the health insurance system for its public-school teachers and ancillary personnel; and

WHEREAS the local tax subsidy is a minor factor in the school employees’ health insurance outlays but nevertheless represents, in the aggregate, a substantial cost to local taxpayers; and

WHEREAS present economic realities militate against significant increases in local government contributions to school employees’ health insurance premiums; and

WHEREAS the Tennessee Education Association calculates that the net “take-home” pay for Warren County teaches ranks next to last among Tennessee’s 136 local school districts, a disparity in which the high cost of health insurance and the relatively low local subsidy are dominant factors; and

WHEREAS this commission’s Education Committee found in a hearing October 10, 2005, that the higher subsidies offered by competing school systems have figured in the decision by some experienced Warren County teachers to leave the local system and this community for employment situations in other systems; and

WHEREAS pending legislation in the Congress of the United States (HR 676, The United States National Health Insurance Act) would make quality health care available to all American citizens; and

WHEREAS we recognize among the civil rights of all American citizens reasonable access to competent, effective and timely medical, surgical and rehabilitative care appropriate to each person’s need;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Warren County Commission that this statement be forwarded to US Senators Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander, and to US Representative Lincoln Davis, as an expression of support for the legislative objectives of HR 676.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this local legislative body call upon the said United States Senators and Representative to support passage of HR 676, and that each be asked by this commission’s chair to reply within 45 days from adoption of this resolution to advise this body of his position with respect to that proposed legislation.

The resolution below was passed by USWA (Steelworkers) Local 6787

RESOLUTION ENDORSING HR 676 — Single Payer Universal Health Care

Workers, their families and their unions are waging an increasingly difficult struggle to win or to keep good health care coverage. Almost every union at every contract deadline must battle and sacrifice merely to sustain health care benefits. The rising costs of health insurance are blocking workers’ progress in wages and other areas. All of our unions face a healthcare crisis.

But the crisis extends far beyond union members. More than 45 million people in the U. S. are currently without health insurance, more than 75 million went without for some length of time within the last two years, and millions more have inadequate coverage or are at risk of losing coverage. People of color, immigrants and women are denied care at disproportionate rates, while the elderly and many others must choose between necessities and life sustaining drugs and care. Unorganized workers have either no or inadequate coverage. The Institute of Medicine has found that each year more than 18,000 in the U. S. die because they had no health insurance.

While we in the United States spend approximately twice as much of our gross domestic product as other developed nations on health care, we remain the only industrialized country without universal coverage. Our problem worsens each year as insurance costs increase and as gradual solutions have failed to make a dent in the problem.

The U. S. health system continues to treat health care as a commodity distributed according to the ability to pay, rather than as a social service to be distributed according to human need. Insurance companies and HMOs compete not by increasing quality or lowering costs, but by avoiding covering those whose needs are greatest.
Economic necessity and moral conscience compel us to seek a better way. Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) (joined by 77 co-signers) has introduced HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act, also called Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. This single-payer health care program proposes an effective mechanism for controlling skyrocketing health costs while covering all 43 million uninsured Americans. The bill also restores free choice of physicians to patients and provides comprehensive prescription drug coverage to seniors, as well as to younger people.

HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by eliminating high overhead and profits of the private health insurance industry and HMOs. The transition to national health insurance would apply the savings from administration and profits to expanded and improved coverage for all.

A single payer program as provided by HR 676 is the only affordable option for universal, comprehensive coverage.

Resolved:

That __________________________________ wholeheartedly endorses Congressman Conyers’ bill HR 676, “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All,” a single payer health care program.

That _____________________ will work with other unions and community groups to build a groundswell of popular support and action for single payer universal health care and HR 676 until we make what is morally right for our nation into what is also politically possible.

That _____________________ will send a copy of this resolution to Congressman Conyers, to all members of the U.S. House and Senate, to the AFL-CIO Executive Council, and to the news media.

That ______________________ will take other actions to mobilize our members and our community at the grassroots to encourage other members of the House to sign on as co-sponsors of HR 676 and to encourage Senators to introduce a companion bill in the Senate.

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE US NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE ACT
(HR 676)

WHEREAS everyone deserves access to affordable quality health care; and

WHEREAS the number of Americans without health insurance now exceeds 47 million; and

WHEREAS millions with insurance have coverage so skimpy that a major illness would lead to financial ruin, and medical illness and bills contribute to one-half of all bankruptcies; and

WHEREAS proposals for “consumer directed health care” would worsen this situation by penalizing the sick, discouraging prevention and saddling many working families with huge medical bills; and

WHEREAS managed care and other market-based reforms have failed to contain health care costs, which now threaten the international competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers; and

WHEREAS administrative waste stemming from our reliance on private insurers consumes one-third of health spending; and

WHEREAS U.S. hospitals spend 24.3% of their budgets on billing and administration while hospitals under Canada’s single payer system spend only 12.9%; and

WHEREAS American physicians are inundated with bureaucratic tasks and costs that Canadian physicians avoid; and

WHEREAS Harvard researchers estimated that more than $300 billion could be recovered by replacing private insurance companies with a single public payer, enough to cover the uninsured and to improve coverage for all those who now have only partial coverage; and

WHEREAS “consumer directed health care” adds yet another expensive layer of bureaucrats — the financial firms that manage health savings accounts; and

WHEREAS entrusting care to profit-oriented firms diverts billions of dollars to outrageous incomes for CEOs and threatens the quality of care; and

WHEREAS The US National Health Insurance Act which would assure universal coverage of all medically necessary services, contain costs by slashing bureaucracy, protect the doctor patient relationship, assure patients a completely free choice of doctors, and allow physicians a free choice of practice settings; NOW THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that____________________________________ expresses its support for The US National Health Insurance Act (HR 676), and calls upon federal legislators to work towards its enactment within the current Congress.