WHEREAS:
Equal health care access should be a right for all Americans; and
WHEREAS:
Health care professionals and providers are disproportionately located in urban and suburban areas of our country, and this trend is not improving; and
WHEREAS:
The lower recruitment and retention of rural health care providers arises, in part, from inadequate monetary compensation; and
WHEREAS:
Many states do not provide adequate resources to award grants and loans to these rural providers; and
WHEREAS:
Some states have developed innovative grant and loan programs which include contributions from both public and private entities; and
WHEREAS:
It is advisable and possible to increase contributions from private corporations and foundations through tax incentives.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME councils and local affiliates will sponsor, support and encourage legislation that incentivizes foundations and corporations (for-profit and nonprofit) to contribute funds to increase the number of rural health care providers in the U.S.
SUBMITTED BY: Stuart A. Bussey, MD, JD, President and Delegate
Nandan Bhatt, MD, Delegate
Dennis K. Lin, MD, Delegate
AFSCME Local 206, Union of American Physicians and Dentists
California