NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Health Coverage in America: Understanding the Issues and Proposed Solutions

    -- Henry J. Aaron, senior fellow, Brookings Institution. Aaron, a national
       health care policy expert will present an analysis of the pros and cons
       of the candidates' proposals
    -- Nancy Schlichting, Chair, Michigan Health & Hospital Association and
       President & CEO, Henry Ford Health System
    -- Marianne Udow-Phillips, Director, Center for Healthcare Research &
       Transformation, Ann Arbor
    -- John J.H. Schwarz, M.D., Physician and former U.S. Congressman
    -- Ron Dzwonkowski, Moderator, Editorial Page Editor, Detroit Free Press

"Health care now ranks fourth(2) in importance to U.S. voters behind the economy, the situation inIraq and energy," says Nancy Schlichting. "The strength of the economy and energy are inextricably linked to the nation's health care crisis. We need a national solution. With more than 1 million people uninsured inMichigan and 46 million nationwide, we can ill afford not to make access to affordable health care a priority issue as voters go the polls this November."

Being uninsured is a business issue. Employees without health insurance have more sick days and are less productive. When people are unemployed, they quickly lose their options for affordable preventative care and costly emergency room visits increase according to Schlichting.

"Employers who are able to provide health care benefits face increasing costs. Relying on employer-sponsored health care is making the U.S. non-competitive globally," says Schlichting. "The Michigan Health & Hospital Association reported thatMichigan's nonprofit hospitals provided an unprecedented $2.6 billion in unreimbursed care in 2007.(3) This safety net is not sustainable. Until we face the reality that health care is broken, we will continue in a downward spiral that will destroy the nation's health care system. Our next president must make a national solution to health care his number one priority."

More than 250 leaders from business, health care and the non-profit community are expected to attend the Health Summit on the Uninsured presented by the Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network. Sponsors include: National American Arab Nurses Association, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Michigan State Medical Society, Michigan Business & Professional Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield ofMichigan, Michigan Association of Health Plans, Health Alliance Plan, Divided We Fail, Molina Healthcare, Detroit Regional Chamber, United Way forSoutheastern Michigan, Henry Ford Health System, University of Michigan Health System, DMC Children's Hospital ofMichigan, Trinity Health, Beaumont Hospitals, Oakwood Healthcare, St. John Health and Michigan AFL-CIO.

    1. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, August
       2008
    2. Source: Aug. 21-23, USA Today/Gallup Poll
    3. Michigan Health & Hospital Association, MHA 2008 Hospital Community
       Benefits Report. The $2.6 billion in unreimbursed care included $209
       million in charity care, more than $605 million in bad debt and more
       than 1.2 billion in unreimbursed cost of health care services funded by
       Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs.

There is no charge for the event but reservations are required. To register, call 313 874-7178 or contact Naomi Ruth at nruth@hfhs.org. For information and to join the Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network visit http://www.mctun.org.

SOURCE The Michigan Cover the Uninsured Network