HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-25 17-339 RESOLVETitle, Resolve
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Council Meeting Date: 09/25/2017
Item No: 17-339
Responsible Dept: Legal
Action Requested: Resolve
09/25/2017 17-339
Map/Lot: N/A
RESOLVE, Supporting Question 2 on the November 7, 2017 Ballot - An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable
Health Care.
Summary
This Resolve will support the passage of a Question 2, a citizens initiative on the November 7, 2017
ballot, entitled ""An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care." The State of Maine has
declined to expand Medicaid coverage, a decision that has cost the City of Bangor and Bangor
residents and businesses federal aid. According to the Bangor Daily News, Maine has a 106,000
uninsured residents or (8%) of the total population. Currently, hospitals, charitable organizations
and the City have been responsible for providing care to the uninsured people of Bangor. For those
reasons and others stated in the Resolve the Bangor City Council is in support of Question 2, An Act
to Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care," and encourage a yes vote on November 7, 2017.
Committee Action
Committee: Government Operations Committee Meeting Date: 10/02/2017
Action: For: Against: 0
Staff Comments & Approvals
City Manager
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City Solicitor
Finance Director
Introduced for: First Reading & Referral Government Operations Committee 10/02/2017
CITY OF BANGOR RESOLVE
Date: 09/25/2017
Item No: 17-339
Assigned to Councilor: Faircloth
09/25/2017 17-339
RESOLVE, Supporting Question 2 on the November 7, 2017 Ballot - An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable
Health Care.
WHEREAS, The US Supreme Court determined that not all provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are mandatory and that states may, at their option,
choose not to implement certain provisions of the Act; and
WHEREAS, one of the optional provisions is expanding Medicaid to include individuals and families with incomes at or below 133% plus 5% of the nonfarm
income official poverty line for the applicable family size; and
WHEREAS, The State of Maine has declined to expand Medicaid coverage, a decision that has cost the City of Bangor and Bangor residents and businesses
federal aid; and
WHEREAS, Individuals that lack healthcare coverage rely on emergency rooms, charitable care, and the City of Bangor to help cover healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, Bangor hospitals provide uncompensated care with state and municipal taxes helping to pay for some of this care including prescription drugs
WHEREAS, According to the Bangor Daily News, Maine has a 106,000 uninsured residents or (8%) of the total population; and
WHEREAS, According to the Bangor Daily News, the uninsured rates decreased faster in the 31 states that have accepted Medicaid expansion; and
WHEREAS, on the November 7, 2017 ballot is Question 2, a citizen initiative, titled "An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable Health Care"; and
WHEREAS, approval of Question 2 will expand Medicaid to provide healthcare coverage for qualified adults under age 65 with incomes at or below 133%
plus 5% of the non farm income official poverty line for the applicable family size, which in 2017 means $16,643 for a single person and $22,412 for a family
of two.
WHEREAS, the federal government will cover the entire cost of this expanding of Medicaid for the first three years, and will pay no less than 90% of the
total cost thereafter, and
WHEREAS, preventive care will become available for newly eligible Medicaid participants, creating a substantial cost savings for the state, municipalities, and
health care facilities in Bangor who largely serve the uninsured through costly emergency room visits and prescription drugs; and
WHEREAS, Insuring more Mainers through Medicaid will lower City costs for this care;
Be it Resolved by the City Council of the City of Bangor that,
The City supports and endorses the full expansion of Medicaid coverage to all eligible adults in Maine, in
accordance with the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT,
The City of Bangor supports passage of Question 2 titled "An Act To Enhance Access to Affordable Health
Care".
IN CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 25, 2017
CR 17-339
FIRST READING AND REFERRAL TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
CO TTEE MEETING�OF OCTOBER 2, 2017
9 ,,e,„,:„. )
CITY CLERK
IN CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 11, 2017
CR 17-339
MOTION MADE AND SECONDED FOR PASSAGE
PASSED
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CITY CLERK