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Health Care Reform Legislation_Sign On LetterTHE CITY OF Dubuque DUB E A~.~~~~ f 1 Masterpiece an the Mississippi 2007 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Sign on Letter for Health Care Reform Legislation DATE: September 2, 2009 Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan is recommending City Council approval of a sign on letter to the United States Conference of Mayors calling on Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation. Although the letter to the Federal legislative staff does not support a specific bill, it does outline principles which support comprehensive health care reform, including oral and behavioral health care. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist THE CITY OF ~D,u~,b~uq,~u,,~e A DuB E o ~ Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: Michael C. Van Millig~, Mary Rose Corrigan, RN anager Public Health Specialist Sign On Letter for Health Care Reform Legislation August 31, 2009 INTRODUCTION This memorandum submits for City Council review and consideration a sign on letter from the United States Conference of Mayors calling on Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform legislation. BACKGROUND During the annual meeting in Providence, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Administration's health care reform principles. As a result of this, the U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling for Congress and the President need to hear directly from mayors. Although the letter to the Federal legislative staff does not support a specific bill, it does outline principles which support comprehensive health care reform. It does not specifically state that oral and behavioral health services are a component of the reform. RECOMMENDATION I recommend the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the attached United States Conference of Mayors letter. I further recommend sending letters to our Federal legislative delegation, including a statement that all coverage must be comprehensive and include oral and behavioral health care. (see attached) CITY COUNCIL ACTION Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached letters on behalf of the City Council. M RC/cj August 31, 2009 Dear Congressman/Senator: The undersigned Mayors of cities across the country urge you to pass comprehensive Health Care reform this year. During the U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in June, mayors unanimously adopted policy calling for the immediate enactment of comprehensive health care reform that will: • Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for families, individuals, businesses and government • Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs • Guarantee choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans and the choice of a private or public health care plan • Invest in prevention and wellness • Improve patient safety and quality of care for all Americans • Maintain coverage when someone changes or loses a job • End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions • Eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in government health programs • Hold insurance and drug companies accountable by ensuring that people are not overcharged for prescription drugs, or discriminated against for pre-existing conditions. • Support public hospitals and other providers in the health care safety net so that those who fall through the cracks of expanded health coverage may still receive care, and so that surge capacity is available in case of public health emergencies; and so that the cultural competencies achieved by providers serving diverse populations are preserved and enhanced in a reformed health care system. • The City of Dubuque further supports that comprehensive health care coverage should include oral and behavioral health care services. As Mayors, we are on the frontlines of the health care crisis with high rates of the uninsured in our cities and rapidly escalating health care costs affecting residents, businesses, and workers. City governments spend billions of dollars to provide health coverage to millions of employees, dependents, and retirees, and rising health costs affect cities' ability to provide other city services. We can no longer let the perfect be the enemy of the essential. We need health reform now. Since 2000, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled, and health care premiums have grown three times faster than wages. Even for people with health care, all it takes is one stroke of bad luck to become one of the nearly 46 million uninsured - or the millions who have health care, but cannot afford it. Every day we hear about families who are struggling with the rising costs of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles, and puts them at risk for a possible loss of health insurance as employers struggle to provide adequate health care coverage. This issue cannot wait. As Mayors, we urge you to enact comprehensive health reform this year. Sincerely, Roy D. Buol, Mayor City of Dubuque THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS IG20 FYE STRP.F.T, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006 TELEPHONE (202) 293-7330 PAX (202) 293-2352 URL: www.usmayors.org August 18, 2009 Dear Representative/Senator The undersigned Mayors of cities across the country urge you to pass comprehensive Health Care reform this year. During the US Conference of Mayors meeting in June, mayors unanimously adopted policy calling for the immediate enactment of comprehensive health care reform that will: • Reduce long-term growth of health care costs for families, individuals, businesses and government • Protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs Guarantee choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans and the choice of a private or public health care plan • Invest in prevention and wellness • Improve patient safety and quality of care for all Americans • Maintain coverage when someone changes or loses a job • End barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions • Eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in government health programs • Hold insurance and drug companies accountable by ensuring that people are not overcharged for prescription drugs, or discriminated against for pre-existing conditions. • Support public hospitals and other providers in the health care safety net so that those who fall through the cracks of expanded health coverage may still receive care, and so that surge capacity is available in case of public health emergencies; and so that the cultural competencies achieved by providers serving diverse populations are preserved and enhanced in a reformed health care system. As Mayors, we are on the frontlines of the health care crisis with high rates of the uninsured in our cities and rapidly escalating health care costs affecting residents, businesses, and workers. City governments spend billions of dollars to provide health coverage to millions of employees, dependents, and retirees, and rising health costs affect cities' ability to provide other city services. We can no longer let the perfect be the enemy of the essential. We need health reform now. Since 2000, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled, and health care premiums have grown three times faster than wages. Even for people with health care, all it takes is one stroke of bad luck to become one of the nearly 46 million uninsured - or the millions who have health care, but cannot afford it. Every day we hear about families who are struggling with the rising costs of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles, and puts them at risk for a possible loss of health insurance as employers struggle to provide adequate health care coverage. This issue cannot wait. As Mayors, we urge you to enact comprehensive health reform this year. Sincerely, THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS 1620 EYE S"f'REET, NORTHWEST WASHINGTON, U.C. 20006 TELEPHONE (202) 293-7330 FAX (202) 293-2352 URL: www.usmayors.org To: The Mayor From: Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle President David Cicilline, Mayor of Providence Chair, USCM Children, Health and Human Service Committee Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco Co-Chair, USCM Health Care Reform Task Force Subject: Sign-on Letter Calling on Congress to Pass Comprehensive Health Care Reform Legislation. We are writing today to ask you to sign a letter calling for Congress and President Obama to pass comprehensive Health Care reform this year. During the Annual Meeting in Providence, we unanimously passed a resolution in support of the Administration's health care reform principles. Now Congress and the President need to hear directly from mayors. Attached is the sign on letter. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is at the forefront of the current debate, working to advance the interests of local governments who are on the frontlines of today's most pressing health care needs. We have had two conference calls with the White House, Congress and mayors from across the country about taking action on the local level for health care reform through resolutions, op-eds and public events. Now, our leaders in Washington, DC need to hear our collective voices for comprehensive health care reform. Sign the letter for health care reform. Our goal is for 500 mayors to sign our letter during the August recess. To sign onto the letter, please return the form below by close of business, September 5, 2009 to the USCM Health Reform Task Force staffer Crystal Swann at cswann(a~usmayors.orq or fax at 202-293-2352. If you have questions please don't hesitate to call her at 202-861-6707. In addition, if your city has passed a health care resolution or placed an op-ed, please also share them with USCM staff. We will be certain to get copies of your resolutions and op-eds to members on Capitol Hill and the Administration. Together, we can work to improve the health and lives of all Americans. Please sign me on the Health Care Reform letter: Mayor's Name: City: