WHEREAS:

Equal health care access should be a right for all Americans; and

WHEREAS:

Health care professionals and providers are disproportionately located in urban and suburban areas of our country, and this trend is not improving; and

WHEREAS:

The lower recruitment and retention of rural health care providers arises, in part, from inadequate monetary compensation; and

WHEREAS:

Many states do not provide adequate resources to award grants and loans to these rural providers; and

WHEREAS:

Some states have developed innovative grant and loan programs which include contributions from both public and private entities; and

WHEREAS:

It is advisable and possible to increase contributions from private corporations and foundations through tax incentives.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME councils and local affiliates will sponsor, support and encourage legislation that incentivizes foundations and corporations (for-profit and nonprofit) to contribute funds to increase the number of rural health care providers in the U.S.

SUBMITTED BY: Stuart A. Bussey, MD, JD, President and Delegate

Nandan Bhatt, MD, Delegate

Dennis K. Lin, MD, Delegate

AFSCME Local 206, Union of American Physicians and Dentists

California