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H.J.R. 27

             1     

AUTHENTIC CHARITY HEALTH CARE JOINT

             2     
RESOLUTION

             3     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Merlynn T. Newbold

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Wayne L. Niederhauser

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This joint resolution of the Legislature recognizes authentic charity care and urges
             11      community, citizen, and medical community support of authentic charity care
             12      throughout the state.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This resolution:
             15          .    recognizes authentic charity care as a key component of state health care policy;
             16          .    expresses support for preserving the integrity of authentic charity care as medical
             17      care provided without cost to patients and without payment, or government
             18      reimbursement, to providers;
             19          .    urges community leaders and the citizens of Utah to become community partners
             20      with existing authentic charity care clinics;
             21          .    urges the citizens of Utah to consider voluntarily supporting Utah's existing charity
             22      care clinics, to assist in establishing clinics in communities where they do not
             23      currently exist, and to seek out opportunities to collaborate and coordinate
             24      charitable health care efforts throughout the state; and
             25          .    urges Utah's medical professionals and health care providers to turn their collective
             26      attention and benevolence to providing authentic charity care throughout the state.
             27      Special Clauses:


             28          None
             29     
             30      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          WHEREAS, as state health policy relies largely on the free market to address issues of
             32      access and affordability, it relies equally on state and federal governments to address the needs
             33      of Utahns for whom health care is beyond their financial reach;
             34          WHEREAS, as government-provided health care continues to grow as a proportion of
             35      the Utah State budget, with no sign of slowing, and as greater pressure is exerted to expand
             36      government health care programs, budgetary constraints preclude an increased government
             37      response;
             38          WHEREAS, authentic charity care is medical care provided to those in need without
             39      cost to the patient and without payment, or government reimbursement, to providers;
             40          WHEREAS, authentic charity care relies on the volunteer services of medical
             41      professionals and the voluntary contributions of private donors;
             42          WHEREAS, authentic charity care is an existing, though underutilized and
             43      underdeveloped, option to provide medical care for Utah's indigent and needy uninsured;
             44          WHEREAS, authentic charity care has its historic roots in the establishment of the
             45      American hospital system;
             46          WHEREAS, the medical profession, especially the American hospital system, was once
             47      motivated primarily by authentic charity care;
             48          WHEREAS, today, authentic charity care has been diminished by government
             49      regulation, expanded government welfare assistance, and less discretionary income due to the
             50      burden of higher taxes;
             51          WHEREAS, examples of authentic charity care can be found throughout Utah,
             52      including the Maliheh Free Clinic and Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City;
             53          WHEREAS, Utah's authentic charity care clinics provide quality medical care to
             54      thousands of indigent and needy uninsured patients at a fraction of the cost of market and
             55      government-driven health care programs;
             56          WHEREAS, Utah's authentic charity care clinics unite divided communities, permit
             57      medical professionals to reclaim their charitable roots, build good will, and reaffirm kindness,
             58      generosity, and gratitude as staples of moral human behavior throughout society;


             59          WHEREAS, authentic charity care meets the broad criteria of reasonable people
             60      searching for lasting solutions to the challenge of caring for Utah's indigent and needy
             61      uninsured; and
             62          WHEREAS, authentic charity care is universal, nondiscriminatory, inexpensive to
             63      provide, effective in delivery, and sufficient for basic health care needs:
             64          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
             65      recognizes authentic charity care as a key component of state health care policy.
             66          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature expresses support for preserving
             67      the integrity of authentic charity care as medical care provided without cost to patients and
             68      without payment, or government reimbursement, to providers.
             69          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges community leaders and the
             70      citizens of Utah to become community partners with existing authentic charity care clinics.
             71          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the citizens of Utah to
             72      consider voluntarily supporting Utah's existing charity care clinics, to assist in establishing
             73      clinics in communities where they do not currently exist, and to seek out opportunities to
             74      collaborate and coordinate charitable health care efforts throughout the state.
             75          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges Utah's medical professionals
             76      and health care providers to turn their collective attention and benevolence to providing
             77      authentic charity care throughout the state.
             78          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor
             79      Herbert, the Utah Department of Health, the Utah Association of Counties, the Utah League of
             80      Cities and Towns, and to the Utah Medical Association.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-29-10 3:43 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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