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23 <br /> Commissioner Price read the following: <br /> NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that the Board of Commissioners of Orange County, North <br /> Carolina does hereby endorse HR 1384, which adheres to the requirements below: <br /> a. A single program - not a patchwork of multi-payer state and federal systems. <br /> b. Comprehensive coverage - all medically necessary services requiring a <br /> medical professional will be covered. <br /> c. Free at the point of service - no more shifting costs onto the sick: no premiums, <br /> no copays, no deductibles, and no coinsurance. <br /> d. Universal coverage - coverage for all U.S. residents. <br /> e. Jobs - replacement and severance for those affected by the transition. <br /> This the 4th day of June 2019. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Bedford for the <br /> Board to approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he has some concerns, and clarified that this is seeking to <br /> abolish the entire current, private, health insurance industry in the United States. <br /> Chair Rich said, as the industry exists in its current form. <br /> Commissioner McKee said it does not say "current form" in the resolution. <br /> Nina Arshaysky said the single-payer system suggests that the entire healthcare <br /> industry (hospitals, doctors, etc.) stays intact, and what changes is how the money is paid to <br /> private providers. She said it will be paid similarly to how it is currently paid by Medicare; <br /> essentially extending Medicare insurance to everybody in the country, as opposed to going <br /> through private health insurance, which cares more about profits than patients. <br /> Commissioner Greene suggested a wording change to "revamping health care delivery <br /> will require an unprecedented level of mobilization, etc." <br /> Commissioner McKee said he questions the whole concept, because the Veteran's <br /> health care program is similar to this, and it is riddled with inefficiencies, delays, and lack of <br /> service. He said this is good rhetoric, but it is short on details. He said this will do away with <br /> the insurance companies, which will effect stockholders, and, in turn, affect the portfolios of <br /> millions of United States residents and their retirement plans. He asked if there is a plan in <br /> place to address this. <br /> Nina Arshaysky said all medical insurance companies have insurance business in other <br /> areas. She said the local group invited Mendel Porter, a former Cigna executive, to speak, and <br /> he said the industry will not be destroyed because it has other business interests. He said <br /> some of those who work in the private industry will have job opportunities to work in the <br /> extended system, but some jobs will be redundant. She said doctors are burning out due to the <br /> administrative strains, and many hours are spent dealing with billing issues, and this change <br /> would allow the entire system to work more efficiently. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if another business line in Blue Cross/Blue Shield could be <br /> identified, and the specifics of other employment opportunities could be explained. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said this resolution is to expand universal health care for all <br /> Americans, and the details that Commissioner McKee is concerned about would not exist in a <br /> resolution. He said he will support the resolution as he wants to show support for universal <br /> healthcare. <br /> Commissioner Greene agreed with Commissioner Dorosin that this is an overall <br /> endorsement of universal healthcare, but the phrase that sticks out to her is: 19% of people <br /> age 50-64 say they are staying in current jobs rather than change or retire because of health <br />