Letter Support Labor Grant Prog
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MEMORANDUM
July 13, 2004
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Support
Chuck Isenhart has requested a letter of support for an application to be submitted by
the Iowa Health Buyers Alliance to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
The substance of the grant will GOver:
. Certifying Iowa heart care centers of excellence and helping members design
education programs and benefit plans to direct members there
. Demonstrating how centers of excellence certification can be tied to Medicare
quality reporting and pay-for performance provisions of the Medicare reform bill
. Developing options for community-based consortiums of employers and unions
. Expanding membership
. Examining, developing, endorsing and promoting products and services for
members (e.g., PBM program, Evalue8, common requests for data and
information to health plans, TPAs, etc.)
. Conducting education programs such as:
disseminating performance information
publishing an Iowa consumer hospital guide
organizing regional seminars (Purchasing Health Care Benefits)
organizing a statewide conference
establishing a website for employer/union member/employee use
publishing a quarterly newsletter on getting better value for the health care
dollar
establishing a "rent-an-expert" resource to be made available to members
on a reduced-fee basis
I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval.
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Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Randy Peck, Personnel Manager
City Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 589-4125 office
(563) 690-6025 fax
(563) 690-6678 TDD
citypers@Cityofdubuque.org
www.cityofdubuque.org
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July 14, 2004
Director
Labor Management Grants Program
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
2100 K Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20427
Dear Director:
I am writing this letter in support of a grant application submitted by the Iowa
Health Buyers Alliance. The City of Dubuque Health Care Committee, which is
composed of bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit employees, has recently approved
membership in the Iowa Health Buyers Alliance. It is my understanding that the grant
will cover some costs associated with certifying Iowa Heartcare Centers of Excellence,
helping members design education programs and benefit plans to direct members to the
Centers of Excellence and demonstrate how Centers of Excellence Certification can be
tied to Medicare quality reporting and pay for performance provisions in the Medicare
reform bill. There are other substantial components to the grant application that will
assist our organization in GOntaining the rising cost of providing quality health care to
our employees.
On behalf of the City of Dubuque I support the application and will attend
scheduled meetings. Thank you for your attention and GOnsideration.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
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