Connecticut Catholic Conference Alert

ACTION ALERT

Urge the Public Health Committee to Support Health Care Reform

Vote "yes" on H. B. 6600
"An Act Concerning the Establishment of the Sustinet Plan"

Tomorrow, March 26th, the Public Health Committee will be voting on H.B. 6600. The Connecticut Catholic Conference urges the Committee members to vote "Yes" on this legislation so that comprehensive health care reform can continue to move ahead in Connecticut.Your State Senator or Representative are a member of the Public Health Committee. Click on the link at the end of this email and urge them to vote "Yes" on H.B. 6600.

Excerpt of March 2, 2009 Testimony by the Connecticut Catholic Conference:
The Connecticut Catholic Conference, the public policy office of Connecticut’s Catholic Bishops, and a member of the Interfaith Fellowship fro Universal Health Care, would like to urge the members of the committees represented here today to support H.B. 6600 “An Act Concerning the Establishment of the Sustinet Plan” and the concepts for health care reform it incorporates. The Conference recognizes that there are many other efforts underway within the legislature and the executive branch to improve our health care system, but feels that H.B. 6600 is the most comprehensive proposal currently before this legislature. We realize that many deliberations and compromises will occur before a final solution to the health care crisis is developed. H.B. 6600 should be used as the centerpiece for any future health care discussions because of its comprehensive nature.

Catholic social teaching holds health care to be a basic human right. This is reflected in the long history of the Catholic Church’s involvement in providing health care services within our own state and throughout the world. The Catholic Church has long been an active participant in the call for health care reform in our state and nationally.

The continuing increase in medical costs and its financial burden on business and family budgets, and the large number of uninsured persons, are the two primary factors pushing the calls for reform. The need for health care reform is clear as thousands of people within our state lack employer sponsored insurance or can not afford to purchase their own health care coverage. The uninsured also cause a continuing strain on our health care system as doctors and hospitals continue to provide care, but with little or no compensation for their services. These providers are dependent on the state and its taxpayers to help cover these uncompensated expenses.

The design of the Sustinet Plan contained in H.B. 6600 addresses the key factors that some other plans presented to this legislature lack. H.B. 6600 makes coverage available for all Connecticut residents despite their employment status, has affordable copays and premiums, provides quality levels of coverage, including dental, and supports preventive medicine. It also has several medical management provisions aimed at reducing costs through better and more comprehensive patient management.

Our state and nation, along with many families, are currently facing very difficult economic times. However, this should not deter this legislature from undertaking much needed health care reform. In the long run a quality universal health care system may end up saving the state money and making life more manageable for Connecticut families. Health care expenses are an ever increasing burden on many of our state’s families. Especially, as the number of unemployed continue to increase.

**This message comes from the Connecticut Catholic Conference***

Health Care Reform in Connecticut

HEALTH CARE REFORM IN CONNECTICUT

"Affordable and accessible health care is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right. With an estimated 47 million Americans lacking health care coverage, it is also an urgent national priority."

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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The upcoming legislative session will present our elected officials with many difficult choices as they try to balance our state budget during difficult financial times. However, one issue that must continue to make progress in our state is health care reform that provides coverage to the ever increasing number of uninsured. As unemployment increases, the number of people who will no longer be able to access health services will also increase. The uninsured in our state, which number in the hundreds of thousands, are comprised of not just the unemployed, but many working people who do not have a sufficient income to afford health insurance.

Employers are also becoming increasingly burdened by ever rising health care costs.

The Connecticut Catholic Conference is a member of the Interfaith Fellowship for Universal Health Care. More information will be provided to you on this very important topic as the 2009 legislative session progresses.

SPECIAL NOTICE: The Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut will unveil a major proposal for health care reform in Connecticut on Tuesday, January 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Union Station in Hartford.

Although the Catholic Conference has not endorsed a particular solution to the health care crisis, we do encourage you to help to keep the drive for
health care reform alive - please try to attend this important event.

Your attendance will show our elected officials how important this issue is to the people of Connecticut.

**this notice is entirely from Connecticut Catholic Conference