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Data and Citations on Responsibilities
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The following testimony was presented by the 2 California APHA affiliates last week to the California Senate Insurance Committee
PUBLIC HEALTH PRINCIPLES FOR UNIVERSAL COVERAGE
Assuring universal coverage for health care will significantly reduce and redistribute the burden of health care costs that drives too many households into financial distress, including bankruptcy, at the same time reducing the social and economic disparities that contribute to many illnesses. Universal coverage is essential for a population-based approach to maintaining health, and preventing and treating illness. Such an approach includes understanding population health conditions and outcomes, and the ability to effectively recommend public health interventions.
In the early 1990's, the APHA Executive Board enunciated principles for use in evaluating proposals for health care reform, distilled from policies adopted by the APHA Governing Council over the years. They are attached to this testimony, and we are gratified to note how closely SB 921 addresses the concerns, as expressed in these principles. In summary, our principles call for:
A focus on population health, which requires universal coverage, and also comprehensive benefits that support disease prevention and health promotion, and support for a strong public health system;
Affordability, which requires financing based on ability to pay, without financial barriers to access including co-payments;
High quality, assured by both organizational and financial incentives, and planning by users and providers, and the efficient organization and allocation of services;
Accessibility, addressing cultural and geographic barriers to care;
and Publicly accountable and simplified administration, with a major role for state and local government agencies.
The New York City Public Health Association coordinated a study of other countries’ universal health care systems, and come to similar conclusions. That report is also attached below. It appeared in the January 2003 edition of the American Journal of Public Health, which also reports on the California Health Care Options Project.
The California Health Care Options Project clearly established that a single payer system, as proposed by SB 921, is the most direct, effective and cost-efficient program for achieving all of these objectives. We are grateful for Senator Kuehl’s leadership in assuring that the urgent issue of universal coverage, and this important policy solution, are once again receiving the significant attention they well deserve.
PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO PROGRESS
Our members are enthusiastic in their support for SB 921. We note with great appreciation the interest of many California legislators in expanding health care coverage, through a variety of routes. The people of California and the nation have suffered too long from preventable illness and death in the face of an inhumane and inequitable health care system, one that cannot be justified in the face of our tremendous resources. We look forward to collaborating with Senator Kuehl and her colleagues to build support for SB 921, and also to working closely with other members of the Senate and Assembly who are motivated to make swift progress on this pressing problem. Then we can turn our attention more fully to dealing with the root causes of poor health and health inequities. Thanks again to the committee for holding this important hearing, and for the opportunity to speak.
California Public Health Association North
office@cphan.org
Southern California Public Health Association
scpha@earthlink.net
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| Ref-1 The Commonwealth Fund,
January 27, 2005, "
Half of Insured Adults with High-Deductible Health Plans Experience
Medical Bill or Debt Problems" CLICK HERE |
SHARE OF EMPLOYER BENEFIT SPENDING GOING FOR HEALTH BENEFITS
There are Hidden Public Costs in Health Care Crisis
Workers have given up other needed benefits, to maintain health coverage
From Employee Benefit Research Inst & US Dept of Commerce
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RACIAL DISPARITY WITH KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS
Percent of Adult Dialysis Patients (age 18-64)
Only Clinically Approved Patients Counted
From NEJM 2000 343:1537
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