Resolution Adopted by the
CCAR
National Health
Care
Adopted by the 102nd Annual
Convention of
the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, June, 1991
WHEREAS, the Central Conference of American Rabbis in 1976
adopted a resolution favoring
“a
comprehensive national health insurance program to cover prevention,
treatment
and rehabilitation in all
areas of health care,” now
BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis endorse the
following
‘”Working Principles
for Assessing National Health Care Legislation” prepared by
the Health Working Group of the
Interreligious Health Care Consultation:
[SUMMARY:l We seek a national health care plan which grants
universal access to health
care
benefits, including access to primary and acute health care,
immunization services,
early
diagnostic and treatment programs, provider and consumer education,
programs of extended care and rehabilitation, mental health and health
and wellness promotion.
Such a
program should provide for education. training and retraining of
health-care
workers as well as just
compensation and affirmative action in hiring. An effective plan will
provide for cost containment, equitable financing and assure quality
of
services.
Our first priority is access to primary and acute
health care plus immunization services,
early diagnostic and treatment programs, and provider and
consumer education. Programs
of
extended care and rehabilitation and programs of mental health are
very important additions.
Working Principles:
“We the people of the United States” are
confronted by a growing crisis in health
care. As communities of faith, we are called to action in the
face of such a challenge.
While the
United States spends more per person on health care than any other
nation
in the world, growing
numbers of people cannot afford simple basic health care, let
alone respond to catastrophic and
chronic health needs. More than thirteen million
children live in poverty; two of three are
completely without medical insurance.
Over fifteen percent of our people have no form of health care
coverage, thirty-seven million
at
any one time. In addition, sixty-five million are under-insured,
exposed to out-of-pocket
expenses
which threaten family economic survival. Health care spending is the
leading cause of personal bankruptcies in the United States. The
accelerating AIDS
crisis is
staining health providers to the breaking point. American business is
disadvantaged
in the world market
because of high health care
costs.
A broadly shared concern for justice compels
us to encourage new health care financing
and coordination of delivery systems which better meet the
needs of all people. Market
strategies that serve only those able to pay are consistent
with neither our religious principles nor our understanding of
Commonwealth, as defined in the U.S. Constitution.
Health care for all is ultimately a result of the
basic principle of Justice for
all,
which must be the foundation upon which all attempts at reform are
based.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that we seek a national health care system that:
1. serves everyone living in the United States.
2. provides for the whole
population of the nation comprehensive benefits, including:
preventive services and health promotion,
primary and acute care, mental health care,
and extended care.
3. draws financial support from the broadest possible resource
base.
4. guarantees access to
care everywhere in the nation.
5.
sets prospective budgets for payments to health care institutions from
federal
funds in a way that assures
services for all parts of a region.
6. is sensitive to the needs of persons working in the various
components of the health
care
system.
7. provides quality
service and payment processes based on principles of equity and
efficiency.
8. sets a national budget for health education and
wellness promotion.
9. promotes
effective and safe innovation and research in medical techniques,
research
on the delivery of health
services, and research on health practices of individuals
and families.
10. reduces the burden of malpractice litigation.
11. significantly reduces the current rapid
inflation in the costs of providing medical
services.
12.
provides federal leadership in health promotion by assessing the
health impacts
of standard of
living issues, housing, nutrition, physical fitness, environmental
safety, and sanitation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that
members of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
work simultaneously both to provide and ensure
access to full health care for the
employees of the institutions, agencies and congregations in
which we serve.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that we convey to President Bush, and the Secretary of
Health,
and Human Services, and
members of Congress our hope that they will work diligently
on behalf of the health and well-being of
the citizens of our country by endorsing
the working principles for assessing National Health Care
legislation.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Central Conference of American Rabbis become a
member
of the Interfaith Coalition
on Health Care with a minimum donation of $1,000 to the
Interfaith Coalition on Health Care.