WHEREAS, there is currently a major crisis in health care accessibility and affordability in Washington State as manifested by:

WHEREAS, managed care has failed to control health care costs, while adversely affecting patient choice of provider, provider-patient relationships, and decision-making autonomy of health care professionals; and

WHEREAS, Health Care 2000 has committed to filing a Citizen’s Initiative for the Washington State November 2000 ballot; and

WHEREAS, the Health Care 2000 Initiative would create a single, publicly accountable,

publicly financed health care payment system called the Washington Health Care Trust fund, providing universal coverage to all Washington residents with a comprehensive benefit package; THEREFORE

BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State Public Health Association endorses the concept of the Washington Health Care Trust because it is consistent with positions previously adopted by the Association, including the resolution passed in 1992 in support of access to health care for all; and FURTHER

BE IT RESOLVED that the Washington State Public Health Association will designate a select committee of interested members and staff to work with Health Care 2000 in drafting the final initiative language.

Adopted by the vote of the Membership assembled at the 1999 Annual Business meeting of the Association, October 4, 1999 in Spokane, Washington.