Legislative Issues
November 5, 2003
PACDHC led the creation of the Philadelphia city charter change for a plan for universal health care . This charter change placed the following words on the November 2003 ballot:
PROPOSED CHARTER CHANGE QUESTION #5
Shall Section 5-300 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to declare that because health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, the City of Philadelphia Health Department shall prepare a plan for universal health care that permits everyone in the City of Philadelphia to obtain decent health care?
Our committee gathered 10,000 signatures and lobbied City Council in order to place this city charter change on the November 2003 ballot. Over 50 organizations endorsed the question, and on November 4th, 2003, it passed with a resounding 146,834 (75%) votes vs. 48,961 (25%)!
Current Status
After passage by the voters, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health asked Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs to conduct a workshop of graduate students who would research the city’s health statistics and asset assessment, conduct key informant interviews, hold community wide focus groups, and put together a community advisory board to guide the formation of this plan.
The students held several seminars over 4 months and crafted a plan which was reshaped by the community advisory board. Led by Dr. David Grande, the other students were Rebekah Cook- Mack, Joshua Dubois, Jessica Goldberg, Adrienne Corpuz-Joyce, and Alexia Smokler. Faculty for the workshop was Dr. Walter Tsou.
Health Commissioner John Domzalski released the plan on Wed, May 11, 2005 in City Hall. The plan is available at http://www.phila.gov/health.
It calls for the initiation of a Health Leadership Partnership to bring together key stakeholders in resolving how we can best coordinate services for the uninsured in Philadelphia and ensure funding for safety net providers.
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