Good Morning,

Kitty Kaplan, Director of the Health and Human Services Legislative Study Committee, asked that I forward the following message to you.  Attached is the resolution the WSLC passed supporting the Healthy Utah Plan.

Also, while I have your attention - let me remind you of a few meeting dates to put on your calendar:

WSLC Board Meeting - Wednesday, August 27, 10:00 a.m.  I will send the location and agenda to the Board members as the date nears.
WSLC General Meeting - Wednesday, September 24 at noon.  The State Issue meeting will be hosted by Governor Herbert in the Gold Room of the Utah State Capital Building
WSLC General Meeting - Wednesday, October 22 at noon.  I will send the location as the date nears.  This will be the National Issues meeting.

Thank you for taking the time to read through Kitty's message.  Our Directors work hard to get us timely and pertinent information.

Jessica Christopher
WSLC Corresponding Secretary

Dear WSLC Members:

It is a rare instance when our advocacy carries into the summer. At our June meeting, the Board agreed that it is appropriate for our members to contact their representatives to again voice support for Governor Herbert's Healthy Utah Plan.  As you have probably read in the papers or heard on the news, Gov. Herbert is close to an agreement with the Obama administration to OK this plan.  However, there is reticence on the part of the legislators to agree to it.  After hearing the different approaches from different perspectives, the WSLC of Utah passed a Resolution in support of the Governor's Healthy Utah Plan to cover the 111,000 low income Utahns including those who fall in the health insurance coverage gap. That resolution is attached.  Below are links to other information to bring you up to date on the issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2kEubKv1LI  -  a video released in June called "Entitled to Life" putting a face to real Utahans caught in the coverage gap

http://blog.healthpolicyproject.org/?p=1939  -  the nonpartisan non-profit Utah Health Policy Project blog that outlines some of the misconceptions being bantered about about the Governor's plan. 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865605851/Poll-Utah-alternative-to-Medicaid-expansion-has-favor-with-Utah-voters.html?pg=all -  DNews article regarding a recent poll showing overwhelming support for Healthy Utah Plan
 
We can help move this along by contacting our legislators today.  A simple email will suffice.  Make sure to put "constituent" in the subject line and include your address in the text of the email.  To find your legislators and their contact information, go to the WSLC website link  http://www.wslcofutah.org/ then click on Participatory Citizen App;  type in your street address and zip code.   Your state representatives will appear.  If you need help, let me know.  You could also let Rep. James Dunnigan who is a chair of the Health Reform Task Force know of your position.  Their job this summer is to evaluate and recommend a plan.  Most legislators only hear from 6 or 8 constituents on any issue.  Your voice does count.
 
In addition, you may want to attend the next Health Reform Task Force meeting Thursday Jul 17th at 9:00 am.  For details including the agenda go to the legislature's website  http://le.utah.gov/asp/interim/Commit.asp?Year=2014&Com=TSKHSR  The more bodies, the better!

 
Thank you,
Kitty Kaplan, Director
Health and Human Services Legislative Study Committee
Womens State Legislative Council of Utah
801-718-2346