WHEREAS, the lack of single-payer health care in the United States has affected the very health and survival of individuals in this Nation and has often become an issue of economic justice for families and individuals; and
WHEREAS, the lack of single-payer health care leads to unemployment and underemployment because employers do not want to pay ever-increasing health insurance premiums and benefits and thus either do not hire workers or hire a higher percentage of temporary or part-time workers to avoid paying such benefits; and
WHEREAS, many people in the United States are tied to jobs in order to keep their current health insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, the largest percentage of people who file for bankruptcy in the U.S. do so as a result of a health care crisis and resulting financial crisis; and
WHEREAS, various States have been actively working on the passage of single-payer health care legislation as a vehicle for the eventual enactment of a single-payer health care system at the National level; and
WHEREAS, the Washington Health Security Coalition, a nonprofit association of diverse organizations, health care advocates and professionals, was founded on April 7, 2007 to promote a single-payer health care system in the State of Washington and at the National level; and
WHEREAS, said Coalition adopted its Mission, Vision and Goals on April 7, 2007 which were subsequently amended and approved on November 18, 2007 and again on February 21, 2010; and
WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), as stated at its website at http://www.iom.edu/About-IOM.aspx, "… is an independent, nonprofit organization that works outside of government to provide unbiased and authoritative advice to decision makers and the public." [and] "Established in 1970, the IOM is the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, which was chartered under President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Nearly 150 years later, the National Academy of Sciences has expanded into what is collectively known as the National Academies, which comprises the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Research Council, and the IOM"; and
WHEREAS, it has come to the attention of the Coalition’s Board of Directors that the IOM has prepared and circulated its Consensus Report entitled "Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations" dated January 13, 2004 that is posted online at the Mission statement of the IOM reads, "The Institute of Medicine serves as adviser to the nation to improve health"; and http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2004/Insuring-Americas-Health-Principles-and-Recommendations.aspx ; and
WHEREAS, said Consensus Report sets forth Principles for guiding the health care reform debate and for evaluating various strategies; and
WHEREAS, such Principles are:
1. Health care coverage should be universal.
2. Health care coverage should be continuous.
3. Health care coverage should be affordable to individuals and families.
4. The health insurance strategy should be affordable and sustainable for society.
5. Health insurance should enhance health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered, and equitable.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Washington Health Security Coalition, through its Board of Directors this date, does hereby support the above IOM principles; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Coalition, through its individual and organization members comprised of single-payer health care proponents, shall continue to advocate for high quality, comprehensive, and affordable single-payer health care as set forth in the Coalition’s Mission, Vision and Goals appended hereto, and in accordance with the IOM Principles stated above; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Coalition will continue to work at both the State and Federal levels for the passage of effective health care reform legislation that will establish a single-payer health care system in Washington State and/or at the National level that will provide quality, affordable health care for all that includes the IOM Principles as well as those set forth in the WHSC Mission, Vision and Goals.
