HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 18 - Consider adopting a Resolution in support of The Medicare For All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384)Item 18
GtT Y Ofi
rn O Council AgendaReport
CIS O
Department Name: Administration
Cost Center: 1001
For Agenda of: November 17, 2020
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Derek Johnson, City Manager
Prepared By: Victoria Tonikian, Interim Executive Assistant to the City Manager / Fiscal
Officer
SUBJECT: CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING CITY SUPPORT
FOR H.R. 1384, THE MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT OF 2019
RECOMMENDATION
Consider adoption of a Resolution (Attachment A) establishing City support for H.R. 1384, the
Medicare for All Act of 2019, and urging its passage by Congress.
DISCUSSION
On October 20, 2020, a majority of the Council directed staff to return with a resolution in
support of H.R. 1384.
In 2019, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal introduced Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384).
H.R. 1384 expands the Medicare program to ensure all United Stated residents have guaranteed
access to healthcare and establishes a national health insurance program which provides
comprehensive protection against increasing health care costs and health -related services. Upon
enactment, the program will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The purpose of this item is for the City Council to consider adoption of the proposed resolution
in support of the Medicare for All Act of 2019.
u R VI RA
H.R. 1384 (Attachment B) proposes a national health insurance program which would provide
health care coverage as described in the bill to all residents. H.R. 1384 would provide:
1. Coverage for all United States residents;
2. Automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States;
3. Comprehensive health care coverage including all primary care, hospital, and outpatient
services, prescription drugs, dental, vision, audiology, women's reproductive health
services, maternity and newborn care, long-term services and supports, prescription
drugs, mental health, and substance abuse treatment, laboratory and diagnostic services,
ambulatory services and more;
4. A full choice of any doctors, hospitals, and other providers;
Packet Page 363
Item 18
5. Long-term care services for individuals of all ages living with disabilities;
6. Coverage with no premiums, deductibles, or copays for medical services;
7. Lower prescriptions costs. This legislation would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices
to substantially lower the costs of prescriptions drugs.
In addition, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental
to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program.
Specified federal health programs would terminate upon implementation of H.R. 1384. However,
the program does not affect veterans' coverage provided through the Department of Veterans
Affairs or Native Americans' coverage provided by the Indian Health Service.
If enacted, the transition to Medicare for All would occur in two years. One year after the date of
enactment, persons over the age of 55 and under the age of 18 would be eligible for the program.
Two years after the date of enactment, all people living in the United States would be eligible for
the program.
Arguments in Support:
H.R. 1384 is sponsored by Representative Pramila Jayapal and the House Progressive Caucus
and is cosponsored by other house members
Proponents of H.R. 1384 make the following arguments in support of the bill:
1. H.R. 1384 would provide comprehensive, cost-free health insurance coverage for all U.S.
residents, regardless of immigration status.
2. Costs would be manageable because the government can control all the costs to keep
them low.
3. H.R. 1384 would explicitly cover reproductive health services, remove federal
restrictions on coverage, and provide protection for providers offering reproductive
health services.
4. H. R. 1384 would establish strong anti -discrimination protections for patients, require
providers to act exclusively in their patient's interest, and include steps to address health
inequities and reach underserved populations.
Arguments in Opposition:
Opponents of H.R. 1384 include: National Right to Life Committee, Partnership for America's
Health Care Future, American Medical Association, PhRMA, America's Health Insurance Plans
and the Federation of American Hospitals.
Opponents of H.R. 1384 make the following arguments in opposition of the bill:
1. H.R. 1384 would place unprecedented strain on the federal budget, estimating an
additional $32.6 trillion in federal budget commitments during the first 10 years.
2. H.R. 1384 would eliminate privately funded health plans, including employer sponsored
coverage.
Packet Page 364
Item 18
3. Concern that complete reliance on government funded health care would require
rationing of services or degradation of quality care when there are insufficient funds
(opponents argue that cost -sharing provisions of current private plans, which would be
prohibited under H.R. 1384, prevent these effects).
4. Concern regarding reproductive health protections within the proposed bill, specifically
that health providers who are morally opposed to abortion could be required to perform
abortions if they provide other kinds of reproductive health care.
5. H.R. 1384 would erode the provisions that limit the use of federal funds for abortion
services.
Status of H.R. 1384
H.R. 1384 was introduced to the House of Representatives on February 27, 2019. On that same
day, the bill was assigned to a committee in the House for review, and the committee referred the
bill to a subcommittee for further review. On March 13, 2019, the sponsor, Congresswoman
Pramila Jayapal, made introductory remarks to the House of Representatives on the bill. On
December 10, 2019, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a
subcommittee hearing on the bill and no further action has been taken since.
Previous Council Action
During the development of the 2020 Legislative Action Platform at the April 21, 2020 City
Council meeting, Council expressly discussed putting an item related to Medicare for All on the
platform, but ultimately rejected doing so as a majority.
Policy Context
At the beginning of each year, the City Council considers a resolution to establish the City's
Legislative Action Platform. The resolution authorizes staff to respond to legislative issues
affecting the City (via letters signed by the Mayor or relevant Department Head), provided the
positions taken in those letters are consistent with the priorities identified in the platform.
Specific direction is required by the Council if an item is not listed or consistent with adopted
platform.
Public Engagement
The item will be presented at the City Council's public meeting on November 17, 2020. The
public has the opportunity to comment in writing prior to the meeting or submit public comment
prior or during the meeting. Additionally, the City Council has received numerous written
correspondence from community members in favor of supporting this bill.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this
report, because the action does not constitute a "Project" under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378.
Packet Page 365
Item 18
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no costs associated with taking a position on this bill.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council may choose to decline the adoption of this Resolution supporting H.R. 1384.
Attachments:
a - Draft Resolution
b - COUNCIL READING FILE - Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384)
Packet Page 366
Item 18
RESOLUTION NO. (2020 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 1384, THE MEDICARE
FOR ALL ACT OF 2019
WHEREAS, every person in the City of San Luis Obispo deserves high quality health
care; and
WHEREAS, the rising cost of health care challenges City of San Luis Obispo's municipal
budget and the budgets of our small businesses, which keep our communities thriving; and
WHEREAS, many of our residents have lost their employer -sponsored health insurance
during the current COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, studies by conservative and liberal economists show nearly all residents and
employers would spend far less with the program described in the text of H.R. 1384, The Medicare
for All Act of 2019, than they do today for health coverage including medical, dental, vision,
hearing, and other care and prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1384 would provide every person in San Luis Obispo all necessary
medical care including prescription drugs; hospital, surgical and outpatient services; primary and
preventive care; emergency services; women's reproductive care; dental and vision care; and long-
term care; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1384 would improve the existing Medicare program, provide coverage
without copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs, and would protect the medical decisions
made by patients and their doctors, and assure patients an unrestricted choice of doctors; and
WHEREAS, the quality of life for the residents of the City of San Luis Obispo will vastly
improve because residents would have access to the ongoing care they need instead of waiting
until they have a medical emergency that could upend their lives and burden them with debt.
17
Packet Page 367
Item 18
Resolution No. (2020 Series) Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
supports H.R. 1384 and urges its passage.
Upon motion of , seconded by
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this day of
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
2020.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, on
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
17
Packet Page 368
City Support for H.R. 1384,
The Medicare for All Act of
2019
Derek Johnson, City Manager
November 17, 2020
\firs
GAT Y 0
ti° CITY OF ►SHII DELIS OBISPO
L�rs o�
Ir
.�A
Recommendation
1. Consider adoption of a Resolution establishing City
support for H.R. 1384, the Medicare for All Act of
2019
Background
1. On October 20, 2020, a majority of the City Council
directed staff to return with a Resolution in support
of H.R. 1384.
2. H.R. 1384:
1. Expands the Medicare program to ensure all United
States residents have guaranteed access to healthcare
2. Establishes a national health insurance program which
provides comprehensive protection against increasing
health care costs and health -related services
Status of H.R. 1384
1. February 27, 2019 - Introduced to the House of
Representatives
1. Assigned to a committee in the House for review
2. The committee referred the bill to a subcommittee for
further review
2. March 13, 2019 - the sponsor, Congresswoman
Pramila Jayapal, made introductory remarks to the
House of Representatives on the bill
3. December 10, 2019 — the House Energy and
Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a
subcommittee hearing on the bill. No further action has
been taken.
Resolution
1. A majority of the City Council directed staff to bring
a Resolution supporting H.R. 1384 forth for
consideration
2. H.R. 1384 would provide every person in San Luis
Obispo all of the necessary medical care including
prescription drugs; hospital, surgical and outpatient
services; primary and preventive care; emergency
services; women's reproductive care; dental and
vision care; and long-term care
Recommendation
1. Consider adoption of a Resolution establishing City
support for H.R. 1384, the Medicare for All Act of
2019
4D
dr
QuestionsA Answef"s'
r. -
`CY U�
0
CITY 4F SqIl LUIS OBISPO
LQIS 04
Y �
r-