LEAGUE WILL STUDY HEALTH CARE ISSUES THURSDAY

Consensus regarding major health care issues will be the aim of discussion at Thursday's meeting of the League of Women Voters of Cape Girardeau County.

The meeting will be held at Holiday Inn and the discussion will begin at 7 p.m. Members and visitors may gather at 5:30 p.m. for an order-from-the-menu dinner if they wish.

Shannon Anders, local league president, said that "consensus is a group process and is integral to league activity. It is a general agreement on answers to complex policy questions facing the country.

"Consensus does not mean that a predetermined percentage of the group must agree. It is not a vote. There may be minority views and that's okay"

There will be four major consensus questions before the group.

Question one deals with financing models:

An employee-based system, coupled with a new state or federal program for the uninsured financed by general revenues and a payroll tax from employers that elect not to provide health benefits.

A national insurance plan, financed through general taxes in place of individual insurance premiums.

Private market-based reform fostering competition in the private sector by changing economic incentives to heighten consumer cost consciousness; could include tax credits for the purchase of private insurance and limiting or eliminating exclusion of employer-provided health care benefits from taxable income.

Question two deals with how financing of health care should be administered:

By the federal government only; by state governments only; by a combination of federal, state and/or regional government agencies; by private organizations and businesses only; by a combination of the private and public sectors.

Question three asks, whether provided health care reforms contain cost control strategies, the league would support increased taxes to finance a minimum basic level of health care for all U. S. residents.

Question four asks, "Under any system of reform, should consumers/patients be permitted to purchase services or insurance coverage beyond the minimum basic level?"

Further information may be obtained by calling Marilyn Ritter at 334-1160.

Results of each local league's consensus will be used in determining the position of LWV/USA on the health care issue.

LWV is a non-partisan political organization, open to both men and women, whose purpose is to encourage informed and active citizen participation in government at all levels. Local league membership chair is Fran Harris at 334-5838. Visitors are welcome at all meetings.