HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2009.06.11 - 9809Miscellaneous Resolution #09127
BY: Commissioner Eric Coleman, District #23 .
RE: Board of Commissioners — A Resolution Urging Immediate Passage
Of Comprehensive Federal Health Reform Legislation
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen
WHEREAS, experts from across the political spectrum agree that
America's health system is "broken" and unsustainable in its present
configuration; and
WHEREAS, families in Oakland County are experiencing this crisis right
now, confronting the high cost of health care that threatens their financial
stability, which leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles and
puts them at risk for a possible loss of health insurance; and
WHEREAS, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly
doubled in recent years making it increasingly difficult for employers, including
county governments, to provide health insurance coverage for their employees
and retirees; and
WHEREAS, millions of Americans do not have health coverage or have
inadequate coverage, and as our economic challenges multiply the problem of
health care access grows, further straining counties' capacity to provide care for
the uninsured, underinsured and medically indigent; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, an estimated 6.5% or 77,620 people in Oakland
County were uninsured. In today's economic climate this number is projected to
grow significantly; and
WHEREAS, county officials are elected to protect the health and welfare
of their constituents: and
WHEREAS, existing public health insurance systems should be
strengthened and expanded, including Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's
Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and efforts to meet public health obligations
that provide indigent care, subsidies for hospitals and clinics, behavioral health,
public health, jail health, and mental health care; and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties (NACo) Health System
Reform Working Group has held three regional hearings to explore the health
crisis and to hear what county officials believe should be done about it. NACo
has summarized its findings in Restoring the Partnership for American Health:
Counties in a 21 s( Century Health System, which was approved and adopted by
,
Cfpniglissionerl6 Coleman
District #23
14/Lut-ac
Commissioner
resolution of the NACo Health Steerin g Committee and Board of Directors on
March 9,2009.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners endorses NACo's health reform principles, as summarized in
Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a 21 st Century Health
System; namely , that reform le g islation should:
1. Restore the partnership between count y and federal governments;
2. Provide access to affordable, quality health care to all;
3. Invest in public health, including health promotion and disease and in j ury
prevention;
4. Stabilize and stren gthen the local health care safet y net system, especiall y
Medicaid and disproportional share hospital (DSH ) payments;
5. Invest in the development of the health professional and paraprofessional
workforce;
6. Ensure that county health agencies have the resources to meanin gfully
use health information technology;
7. Enable elderly and disabled persons to receive the services they need in
the least restrictive environment; and
8. Reform the delivery and financing of health services in the jail s ystem.
BEIT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board stron gly urges the 111th
Cong ress of the United States to enact comprehensive health reform le gislation
without delay before the end of its first session.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested
to forward copies of this adopted resolution to President Barack Obama; the
Michig an deleg ation to the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate; the National
Association of Counties; Mr. Michael Blake, Deputy Associate Director of the
Offices of Intergovernmental Affairs & Public En gagement; the Michigan
Association of Counties; and Oakland Count y's legislative lobb yists.
Chairper5on, ykr.e. Tove the adoption of th bregojng Resolutipn. I 7 if,g„..,
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Resolution #09127 June 11, 2009
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.