Information on the proposed concurrence

The Concurrence Statement is linked here.

All concurrences offer a “concurrence statement,” the language that will become the new position or that will amend a current position. Current LWVUS positions can be revised or rewritten (have their wording changed) only after nationwide study and consensus across 50 state leagues and DC league. Concurrence can add language to a US position by leveraging the work done by another League in studying an issue.

Because the LWVUS has a Health Care position from 1993, this concurrence takes excerpted language from the two NYS 2021 positions to add to the current US position. The two new NYS positions replaced the NYS 1991 positions (after the NYS study and state-wide adoption). The proposed NYS concurrence statement removes language that is redundant to the current US position and language focused particularly on NYS. It also generalizes references to NYS, New York residents, and state programs, making the position appropriate for a national position. (Note that LWVNY considers “healthcare” as one word, while LWVUS uses two words.)

Why support this concurrence

Since most local and state Leagues use the national health care position in lieu of having their own, amending the national position to be more current benefits all. Per League guidelines, there can be no changes to the language of the national position without a new study. Thus, this concurrence will benefit state Leagues without requiring additional resources from the national League.

By adopting (passing) this concurrence, convention delegates will update our national position to speak to current concerns including health inequities that have grown more severe over three decades — without having to conduct their own studies, create their own study materials, and go through their own consensus process.  For example, it will provide grounds for local and state Leagues to support

• • safe staffing in hospitals and nursing homes
  • regular evaluations of all health programs
  • respect for patient decisions (including those made prior to need)
  • expanded delivery options
  • more equitable access to health care
  • and further, they can oppose cost-control methods that exacerbate disparities in health outcomes

Such healthcare reforms will benefit everyone, and particularly poor, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), rural, and other socially and economically disadvantaged communities.

The Concurrence proposes adding exact language from the LWVNYS positions, 2021 (see the Concurrence Statement) to the LWVUS Position 1991, into four subheadings, with substance summarized below:

• • • GOALS
      Universal and equitable access to comprehensive care — supporting expanded delivery options to reach the most vulnerable, ensuring quality care and safe staffing, and centeriing health care decisions made by patients with their physicians and families, rather than for-profit entities.

    • FINANCING & ADMINISTRATION:
      Explicitly favors “single-payer” funding with access to health insurance independent of employment status — the Study Materials reference decades of research showing the unequaled power of single-payer systems to achieve equitable and universal access, on-going cost containment (by reducing waste and corporate profits). New language favors separating access to health insurance from employment. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the dangers of millions losing health insurance.

      In the absence of a national program funding universal health care, new language allows states to enact programs, provided they comply with League principles.

      COST CONTROL:
      Cost-control measures should reflect the most credible, evidence-based research available; favored measures should not exacerbate disparities among patients.

      PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
      Explicit support for transparent administration, with regular assessment of public health metrics and coverage, cost, and funding decisions.

The email announcing the proposed concurrence to Leagues across the US is linked here.