The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce released the following resolution in support of The Texas Way:
WHEREAS, Texas has the highest rate of residents without health insurance (24%) in the country and El Paso County, with a rate of uninsured of 33 percent; and
WHEREAS, More than one point one million low-wage working Texans have no access to public or affordable private health insurance; and
WHEREAS, Hospital emergency rooms are often the sole source of care for the uninsured; and
WHEREAS, Statewide, local property taxpayers fund more than one billion dollars in county indigent health care services; and
WHEREAS, The average insurance premium for a Texas family is eighteen hundred dollars higher per year due to costs associated with uncompensated care for the uninsured; and
WHEREAS, Texas hospitals are sustaining $13 billion in funding cuts to pay for increasing access to health insurance coverage for the uninsured; and
WHEREAS, Texas employers and the continued success of the Texas economy depend on a healthy workforce; and
WHEREAS, Federal funds are available to increase access to health insurance for uninsured Texans; and
WHEREAS, Texas has the opportunity to be an innovation leader in health care coverage for the low-wage uninsured.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce endorses the Texas Way, which encourages state lawmakers to leverage available federal funds and develop a private health insurance option for uninsured, low-wage working Texans that:
-> Requires personal responsibility;
-> Promotes appropriate utilization of health services; and
-> Reduces inefficient health care spending.
