R08-3 A Resolution Concerning Health Care

Resolved, this 134th Convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio supports health care reform that incorporates the following principles:

~ Health care including mental health care should be available to all persons in the United States;
~ Access to health care should be continuous;
~ Health care should be affordable for individuals, families, and businesses;
~ National and state health care policy should be affordable and sustainable for society;
~ Health care should enhance health and well-being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered and equitable;
~ Health care providers should not be expected to assume a disproportionate share of the cost of providing health care; and be it further

Resolved, that this Convention will support:

~ Reforms consistent with the Principles, including measures that promote fairness and affordability, and improve efficiency;
~ Measures that provide financial support for insurance coverage and health care;
~ Funding and policies that reflect shared responsibilities among public and private interests, including individuals, families, business, health care providers, insurers, and government;
~ Measures that improve access and quality and promote efficient and effective use of the health care dollar;
~ Accountability and transparency in health spending; and be it further

Resolved, that this Convention refer this Resolution to the Social Justice and Public Policy Network Committee to advise the Diocesan Council – as the convention between convention – and the bishops on the status of health care legislation and to advise whether particular legislation should be considered for endorsement.

Presented by:
Frederick J. McGavran
Contact: fmcgavran@fbtlaw.com
Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati
Church of the Good Shepherd, Athens
The Rev. Roger Greene, St. Timothy, Anderson Township
Paul Rank – St. Timothy, Anderson Township
The Rev. Paula Jackson, Church of Our Saviour, Mount Auburn

Explanation
Americans pay more for health care than people in any other Western country, but private and public sources do not provide health care including mental health care for all persons in the United States. We are unique in funding health care in large part through employer provided insurance. At the same time, health care for government employees, including members of the United States Congress, is funded directly by the federal government.
The Ohio Hospital Association reports that according to federal government estimates, about 45.7 million Americans lack health insurance and 1.2 million Ohioans are uninsured. Many businesses cannot economically provide health insurance to employees, and persons outside the labor force may not have access to employer policies. As a result, tens of millions of people do not have regular access to health care. In far too many instances, people can only obtain health care at ruinous expense. Many providers are not adequately compensated for their services for uncovered persons, thereby placing an unfair burden on providers and increasing the cost to persons who do have health care coverage.
Despite the enormous expense of the current health care system, quality of care for many persons is declining. One recent study shows that children are at risk of losing health care when their parents lose or change jobs. Another study shows that children without continuous health care coverage have unmet health care needs similar to the chronically uninsured. In Ohio the infant mortality rate for African American children approaches that of third world countries. Nearly everyone can tell some horror story about health care from the perspective of patients, family or friends, or from the perspective of physicians, nurses, hospitals, staff, and other providers.

Impact on God’s Vision in the Diocese of Southern Ohio

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ healed the sick, and commanded us to do likewise. Our Church and our Diocese have long been aware of the health care issue, and have taken action to promote reform. The Episcopal Church has asserted the right of all individuals to health care (1991-A010), called for a system of universal access to health care (1991-A099), adopted Church Principles on Access to Health Care (1994-A057), created an Association of Episcopal Health Care Groups and Individuals (2000-A079) and reestablished a Standing Committee on Health Legislative Action Taken ((2003-A124).

The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has expressed its support for comprehensive medical benefits for all workers (R01-01).

Most Americans and Ohioans are aware that there is a health care crisis that, if unresolved, will continue in a downward spiral as access to health care and quality of care decline, and cost dramatically increases. A number of proposals are being made to address the health care crisis. We believe that it is necessary to state our support for the principles and types of reforms stated above as guidelines for legislators and policy makers.

We are also aware that reform of health care in Ohio and the United States is enormously complex, and that meaningful proposals will not probably be made until after the national elections in November 2008. We therefore believe that this Convention should refer this Resolution to the Social Justice and Public Policy Network Committee to follow proposed legislation and advise Diocesan Council, the bishop and the diocese on the status of health care legislation, and advise whether particular legislation should be considered for endorsement. If meaningful legislation is not introduced at the state or federal level, the Committee should advise Diocese Council, the bishops and Convention so that it may take appropriate action.

Financial and Program Impact Summary

Budgetary Impact: Negligible. Members of the Committee attend meetings at their own expense. Most communications will be electronic.

Program Impact: Short-term implementation is letter writing by the Secretary of the Convention to convey the Resolutions to Southern Ohio’s Congressional Delegation, Ohio state legislators that represent the geographic boundaries of Southern Ohio, the President and the Governor. Longer-range impact will be through the Committee, the Diocese and the next Convention, and by congregations informing themselves on these Resolutions and health care reform. These Resolutions are within the spirit of the Millennium Development Goals, which seek health care for all people.