WHEREAS:

Managed care was supposed to provide a new model for the delivery of health care by showing that it could reduce costs to consumers and provide profits without cutting quality; and

WHEREAS:

An expensive, powerful, and misleading campaign waged by the health insurance industry attacked President Clinton's proposed guaranteed health insurance program with charges that it would limit consumers' choices by forcing them to use certain providers; and

WHEREAS:

After Clinton's proposal died, managed care companies erected gatekeepers to decide whether and when patients could see doctors, sharply limited how much time a patient could stay in a hospital and, too often, avoided enrolling those perceived to be less healthy, all with little regard for the quality and availability of health care; and

WHEREAS:

Health care costs are beginning to rise faster despite the actions taken by managed care insurers; and

WHEREAS:

Managed care is a colossal failure in its claim to be able to keep down costs and provide good quality health care as evidenced by the recent bankruptcy of the California Medical Association's managed care company.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That this convention reaffirm the need to renew the fight for universal health insurance and keep alive the only movement that can secure good quality health care and access to it for all Americans.

SUBMITTED BY:

Henry Nicholas, President and Delegate
NUHHCE/AFSCME Local 1199

 

Brenda Stokely, President and Delegate
AFSCME Local 215, Council 1707
New York