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
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DuB E
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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: