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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF HEALTH
THE BOARD OF HEALTH OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
RESOLUTION NO. 41-09A
A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL
HEALTH REFORM LEGISLATION
WHEREAS, experts from across the political spectrum agree that America's
health care system is "broken" and unsustainable in its present configuration; and
WHEREAS, families in Jefferson County are experiencing this crisis right now,
confronting the high cost 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; 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, a growing number of Jefferson County residents find themselves
uninsured for all or part of the year, risking potential bankruptcy if major medical
expenses are incurred; and
WHEREAS, county officials are elected to protect the health and welfare of their
constituents: and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County's main Public Hospital District, Jefferson
Healthcare, has admirably maintained its commitment to serve all County residents in
need, irrespective of insurance status or ability to pay, and in doing so has incurred
steadily increasing and unsustainable costs for the uncompensated care provided ; and
WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties (NACo) Health System Reform
Working Group, appointed by President Don stapley in July 2008 and chaired by
President-Elect Valerie Brown, has held three regional hearings to explore the health
crisis and to hear what county officials believe should be done about it and has
summarized its findings in Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a
21st Century Health System which was approved and adopted by resolution of the
NACo Health Steering Committee and Board of Directors on March 9, 2009.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Jefferson County Board of Health
endorses NACo's health refonn principles, as summarized in Restoring the Partnership
for American Health: Counties in a 21st Century Health System; namely, that refonn
legislation should
1. restore the partnership between county and federal governments;
2. provide access to affordable, quality health care to all;
3. invest in public health, including promotion of good health and disease and injury
prevention;
4. stabilize and strengthen the local health care safety net system, especially
Medicaid and disproportional share hospital (OSH) payments;
5. invest in the development of the health professional and paraprofessional
workforce;
6. ensure that county health agencies have the resources to meaningfully use
health infonnation technology;
7. enable elderly and disabled persons to receive the services they need in the
least restrictive environment; and
8. refonn the delivery and financing of health services in the jail system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board strongly urges the 111lh Congress
of the United States to enact comprehensive health refonn legislation without delay
before the end of its first session.
APPROVED, ADOPTED AND PASSED, THIS lIP day oOLo..f .2009.
THE BOARD OF He.;~fH OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
By: ~l8-.~~~~ _
She! a Westennan, Chair
-615 Sheridan - Castle HilI Center- Port Townsend _ WA. 98368
(360) 385-9400