Title
Resolution Authorizing Membership in and Commitment to Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) 2018 Statement of Commitment (Charter) and Payment of Annual Membership Fee ($30,000.00)
Staff
Prepared by: Washtenaw Health Initiative
Reviewed by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) is a voluntary, countywide collaboration of local leaders focused on improving health and healthcare in Washtenaw County with an emphasis on the low income, uninsured, and underinsured populations. The WHI brings together organizations to generate innovative ideas to improve health and healthcare in the county, identify and share information on gaps and opportunities, and coordinate and leverage resources;
Whereas, The Initiative's recent successes include 1) facilitating a county-wide coalition to reduce overdoses and deaths related to opioid use, resulting in dozens of overturned overdoses each year, 2) reducing depression and anxiety symptoms among hundreds of patients in primary care settings, and 3) coordinating agencies conducting health care coverage enrollment, resulting in 11,023 Washtenaw County residents enrolled in Marketplace plans in 2018 and 18,136 Washtenaw County residents enrolled in the Healthy Michigan Plan as of September 2018;
Whereas, There are an estimated 613 Ann Arbor City residents eligible for Medicaid or the new Healthy Michigan Plan but who were uninsured in 2017;
Whereas, There are an estimated 817 Ann Arbor City residents eligible for tax credits to purchase coverage on the Health Insurance Marketplace but who were uninsured in 2017;
Whereas, Pursuing voluntary charter membership in the WHI is closely related to previous City efforts;
Whereas, It is advantageous for the City to continue as a voluntary member at this time to participate with a group on the forefront of recognizing and attempting to address current gaps that exist in the health care system, and as a way to participate with an org...
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