Title
Resolution Authorizing Membership in and Commitment to Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Charter 2015 Statement of Commitment and Appropriation of Membership Fee ($10,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Body
Whereas, The Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) is a voluntary, county-wide 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 on addressing overdoses and deaths related to opioid use, resulting in five overturned overdoses since the beginning of September 2015, 2) implementing an innovative program to address unmet mental health needs in primary care settings, and 3) coordinating agencies conducting health care coverage enrollment to the degree that Washtenaw County topped all counties in the state with the highest proportion of people enrolled in new coverage options compared to those eligible for coverage in 2013-2014, when 10,700 people in the county enrolled in Marketplace plans (in 2014-2015, 11,475 enrolled);
Whereas, There are an estimated 2,485 Ann Arbor City residents eligible for Medicaid or the new Healthy Michigan Plan but not enrolled;
Whereas, There are an estimated 1,298 Ann Arbor City residents eligible for tax credits to purchase coverage on the new Health Insurance Marketplace but not enrolled;
Whereas, Pursuing voluntary charter membership in the WHI is closely related to previous City efforts;
Whereas, It is advantageous for the City to become 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,...
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