Chairman Linda W. Cropp at the request of the
Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to extend the term of
the Commissioners and the authority of the DC Health Care System Development Commission to
develop strategies to increase access to health care and improve health outcomes for
District of Columbia residents.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited
as the "DC Health Care System Development Commission Emergency Declaration Resolution
of 2000".
Sec. 2. (a) There exists an immediate crisis regarding the extension of the term of the
commissioners and the authority of the DC Health Care System Development Commission.
(b) The DC Health Care System Development Commission is reviewing data and documents to
assess the District’s health care delivery structure, 2) availability of comprehensive
quality care, and 3) strategies for expanding coverage and services accessibility. The
Commission’s mandate is to develop a detailed plan for improving health outcomes in the
District of Columbia.
(c) The Commission has met with health providers and consumers to identify health
issues in the City. These issues include:
- There are approximately 80,000 District residents, or 15 percent of the population, lack
health coverage. - There are approximately 60 public and private clinics that currently serve the city’s
vulnerable populations. However, the clinics are not organized into an integrated system
with unimpeded pathways to other levels of care. The District lacks the infrastructure to
efficiently connect indigent patients, and their primary care providers to necessary
services. - The District of Columbia spends more than $1.3 billion a year on health care services,
but lacks an integrated system of "prudent purchasing" that holds public and
private providers accountable for both cost and quality.
(d) The DC Health Care System Development Commission is developing
recommendations/findings and a final report to submit to the Mayor and City Council to be
considered with the FY 2001 budget.
(e) In order for the Commission to complete its work, the term of the commissioners and
the authority of the Commission must be extended immediately.
Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the DC
Health Care System Development Emergency Act of 2000 be adopted after a single reading.
Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.