Resolution re health coverage for city workers

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Ann Kitchen
Posts: 294
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:04 pm

Resolution re health coverage for city workers

Post by Ann Kitchen »

Hello All

I'm posting here a proposed resolution to begin the process for addressing health care coverage for all city workers.

I brought this resolution forward, with my colleagues, because I think it is critical for the City of Austin to have a more complete understanding of the impact of the city's policy decision related to health care coverage of city workers. I'd like to understand the scope of the problem (eg how many city workers are not covered) and what the cost would be to the city of extending coverage to all city workers.

The cost of health care is a major component of the cost of living for individuals and families in Austin. "Affordability" for Austinites should include access to affordable health care coverage - which most of us receive through the places we work.

This resolution takes two steps:
FIRST - develops information about the status of health care coverage and the costs of extending coverage
SECOND - assigns the issue of health care coverage for all city workers to the Audit and Finance Committee for consideration and report back to Council as part of the budget cycle discussion.

I welcome any questions or thoughts you have.

Ann Kitchen
Councilmember District 5
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsor: CM Kitchen
Co-sponsor 1: CM Renteria
Co-sponsor 2: CM Garza
Co-sponsor 3: Mayor Pro-Tem CM Tovo
Co-sponsor 4: CM Casar
Attorney:
Target Council Date: 2/26/2015
Posting Language:
Approve a resolution directing the City Manager to estimate the costs to the City relating to uninsured City workers and to estimate the cost to provide health care coverage to all categories of City workers not currently offered coverage, (including part-time, temporary and contract workers) and including workers in all City entities (including Austin Energy, Austin Water Utilities, etc.) during the next budget cycle.


Other Notes:
Resolution ______________
WHEREAS, the cost of health care services is often unaffordable without insurance except for those wealthy enough to self-insure; and
WHEREAS, many employed persons in Austin have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid and/or are not eligible for Medicaid covered categories (for example, single childless adults are generally not eligible for Medicaid benefits) yet have incomes below the income guidelines to qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act; and
WHEREAS, many other employed persons in Austin who do qualify for coverage under the Affordable Care Act do not obtain coverage because the monthly premiums are unaffordable at their income levels, even with the assistance of a subsidy; and
WHEREAS, those without access to affordable preventive and early intervention health care services, such as screenings and a family doctor's care, are more likely to suffer from chronic illness and serious complications, and are at greater risk for hospitalization; and
WHEREAS, healthy workers are more productive and miss less work time, lowering costs to both workers and the employer, and
WHEREAS, the City of Austin incurs costs of services for uninsured Austinites, for example ambulance and emergency services, and public health services; and
WHEREAS, the City of Austin offers coverage to some city employees in recognition of the value of their labor, but does not provide this benefit to all city workers; and
WHEREAS, the council requires additional information related to the city's estimated cost of offering health care coverage to all city workers in order to consider that cost in the context of the city's costs due to lack of insurance coverage for these workers.



NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
The City Manager is directed to deliver a report on the status of health care coverage for persons working for all entities of the City, including part-time employees, temporary employees, and contract workers, and identify any other category of worker or employee not receiving health care coverage, but not to include persons working with separate companies who hold contracts with the city, nor to include city employees currently offered coverage; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That this report will include the definition and description of each of the above categories, (e.g. part-time employees, temporary employees, and contract workers, any other identified categories of worker or employee, not to include persons working with separate companies who hold contracts with the city, nor to include city employees currently offered coverage) clearly defining what determines whether a worker falls into one of the identified categories; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That this report will estimate by survey, or similar accepted methodology, the number of workers in the targeted categories who currently obtain health care coverage from a non-employment related source (e.g., a spouse, Affordable Care Act, or some other source); and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That this report will attempt to estimate costs incurred by the city related to uninsured city workers and will, at a minimum, identify the source of those costs, and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That this report will estimate the additional cost of adding each category of worker, accounting for economy of scale during the next budget cycle, health care coverage to all persons working for the City in all categories, including all City of Austin entities, such as, but not limited to, Austin Energy and Austin Water, excluding any persons working with separate companies who hold contracts with the city.
The City Manager is directed to, within 60 days, deliver this report to City Council. Further, the council assigns the issue of offering coverage to all city workers in the next budget cycle to the Audit and Finance Committee for consideration and report back to the full council.


ADOPTED: _________________ ATTEST: ____________________
Jeannette Goodall
City Clerk
Ann Kitchen
Council Member District 5