To:
Key Business Leaders
From:
Jon L. Shebel, President & Chief Executive Officer
Subject:
Invitation to Testify before the Select Committee on Affordable
Health Care for Floridians
Date: September
10, 2003
Via:
Facsimile Transmission
House Speaker Johnnie Byrd
has formed the Select Committee on Affordable Health Care for Floridians
and has asked Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) to help in identifying
business people who are willing to testify before the committee.
The select committee is
charged with the following tasks:
· examining current
factors that affect the costs of health insurance
· identifying
market barriers to change
· recommending
policies to provide choice and competition in the marketplace
· recommending
long and short-term approaches for controlling health insurance
costs
· recommending
policies to provide consumer information necessary for a successful,
free-market environment
In addition to employers,
the select committee is inviting a variety of other speakers (researchers,
health care experts, etc.). Speakers who agree to testify will be
scheduled in slots of 10 to 15 minutes during the first half of each
four-hour public hearing. During the second half of each meeting,
the floor will be opened to the public at large.
This is a rare and important
opportunity for employers to educate members of the Legislature about
the challenges - and successes - involved in obtaining quality health-care
coverage for Florida employees, and to present ideas, suggest changes,
and give input to the legislative process.
To volunteer yourself
or someone at your company to make a presentation to the Select Committee, please complete the attached form, which reflects the scheduled public hearings, and return the form
to the AIF Administration Department, fax number (850) 224-6532.
In addition to the
House select committee, Gov. Jeb Bush has created the Task Force on
Access to Affordable Health Insurance, which will be meeting across
the state for the next several months. As soon as we have more information
on the task force’s schedule as well as opportunities to participate
in its work, we will contact you.
I would strongly urge
all Floridians to monitor closely the work of both of these groups.
They hold significant promise for reducing the numbers of uninsured
by finding free-market solutions that will improve access to quality
health care.
Select
Committee Members:
Chairman: Frank Farkas
(R-St. Petersburg) Ed Homan (R-Tampa)
Kim Berfield (R-Clearwater)
Marcelo Llorente (R-Miami)
Don Brown (R-DeFuniak
Springs) Dave Murzin (R-Pensacola)
Donna Clarke (R-Sarasota)
Pat Patterson (R-DeLand)
Rene Garcia (R-Hialeah)
Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood)
Dudley Goodlette (R-Naples)
Baxter Troutman (R-Winter Haven)
