BILL REQ. #:  H-0500.1 

Read first time 01/23/2007.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world in terms of absolute costs, per capita costs, and percentage of gross domestic product; and
     WHEREAS, Despite being first in spending, the World Health Organization has ranked the United States 37th among all nations in terms of meeting the health care needs of its people; and
     WHEREAS, Nearly forty-six million Americans, including eight million children, are uninsured; and
     WHEREAS, Tens of millions more Americans are inadequately insured, including Medicare beneficiaries who lack access to meaningful prescription drug coverage and affordable long-term care insurance; and
     WHEREAS, Racial, income, and ethnic disparities in access to care threaten communities across the country, particularly communities of color; and
     WHEREAS, Health care costs continue to rise, jeopardizing the financial and health security of working families and small businesses; and
     WHEREAS, Dollars that could be spent on health care are being used for administrative costs instead of patient needs; and
     WHEREAS, Health care reform must ensure that health care providers and practitioners are able to provide patients with the quality care they need;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that legislation be enacted by the Congress to guarantee that every person in the United States, regardless of income, age, employment, or health status, is entitled to receive all medically necessary care under a system of care that meets the following requirements:
     (1) The system provides a single universal standard of excellence in care applied to all patients.
     (2) Under the system, care is affordable to all individuals and families, businesses, and taxpayers, and there are no financial barriers to needed care.
     (3) The system is as cost-efficient as possible, spending the maximum amount of dollars on direct patient care.
     (4) The system provides comprehensive benefits, including benefits for mental health and long-term care services.
     (5) The system promotes prevention and early intervention.
     (6) The system includes parity for mental health and other services.
     (7) The system eliminates disparities in access to quality health care.
     (8) The system addresses the needs of people with special health care needs and underserved populations in rural and urban areas.
     (9) The system promotes quality and better health outcomes.
     (10) The system addresses the need to have adequate numbers of qualified health care caregivers, practitioners, and providers to guarantee timely access to quality care.
     (11) The system provides adequate and timely payments in order to guarantee access to providers.
     (12) The system fosters a strong network of health care facilities, including safety-net providers.
     (13) The system ensures continuity of coverage and continuity of care.
     (14) The system maximizes consumer choice of health care providers and practitioners.
     (15) The system is easy for patients, providers, and practitioners to use and reduces paperwork.
     (16) The system provides patients with sufficient information to make informed decisions when selecting their health care providers.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.