At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131014: Continue To Care Committee

Po Box 7181 Committee Type: Campaign

Kansas City Mo 64113

(816) 213-2862 Established Date: 01/25/2013

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Ballot Measures Election Date Subject Support/Oppose

Kansas City Question 1 04/02/2013 Healthcare/City Of Kansas City Support

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Over the last few weeks:

C131014 02/08/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City 1200 Main, Suite 230 Kansas City MO 64105 2/8/2013 $50,000.00

C131014 02/08/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE JE Dunn Construction Company 1001 Locust Street Kansas City MO 64106 2/8/2013 $10,000.00

C131014 03/04/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Kansas City Free Health Clinic 3515 Broadway Kansas City MO 64111 3/4/2013 $10,000.00

C131014 03/06/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Blue cross blue shield of Kansas City Po box 419159 Kansas City MO 64141 3/6/2013 $10,000.00

C131014 03/08/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City 2700 E 18th Suite 220 Kansas City MO 64127 3/8/2013 $120,000.00

C131014 03/21/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Northland Health Care Access P.O. Box 14414 Parkville MO 64152 3/21/2013 $10,000.00

C131014 03/21/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE The Health Alliance of Midamerica 7015 College Blvd, Suite 150 Overland Park KS 66211 3/21/2013 $12,500.00

C131014 03/21/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Saint Luke’s Health System 10920 Elm Ave. Kansas City MO 64134 3/21/2013 $10,000.00

C131014 03/22/2013 CONTINUE TO CARE COMMITTEE Truman Medical Centers 7900 Lee’s Summit rd. Kansas City MO 64139 3/22/2013 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

They’re not waiting for Obamacare to kick in. Why would that be?:

….It is important that Kansas Citians vote yes on Question 1 on April 2 because the cost of NOT renewing the Health Levy would significantly exceed the cost of renewing it. If we don’t renew the levy, patients who are unable to receive needed care will become an additional cost the city has to shoulder. And, private hospitals that aren’t getting paid for providing services to uninsured or underinsured patients will be forced to raise their costs for everyone else. This is not a new tax but a continuation of the existing Health Levy. In short, the Health Levy is a common sense solution to prevent a much larger problem….

Continue to Care

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   On April 2, 2013, Kansas City is asking voters to approve Question 1, which will renew the approximately one-third of Kansas City’s Health Levy that is set to expire next year. It is important to note that the city’s safety net providers are not asking for a new tax, but rather the continuation of an existing levy dedicated to providing basic health care for the underserved.

   The Health Levy is an important investment for the city because it helps offset the costs of uninsured and underinsured patients while keeping health care costs lower for the rest of us. It also helps create stronger, healthier communities.

   Equally important, the Health Levy supports the Kansas City economy by investing in thousands of health care jobs.

   Specifically, Question 1 requests renewal of 22 cents of the current tax levy dedicated to ambulance services, emergency medical services, and hospital and public health purposes for a period of nine years. Funding would support Truman Medical Centers, and non-profit neighborhood health centers, including Northland Health Care Access, Cabot Westside Health Center, Swope Health Services, KC Care Clinic, and Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center.

   An owner of a home assessed at $100,000 pays less than $4.00 per month to help provide essential health care services in our community.

   Last year, this portion of the Health Levy helped pay for more than 140,000 health care visits in Kansas City. One out of every ten Kansas Citians benefited from this levy.

   Question 1 will ensure critical funding for Kansas City’s safety net health care providers; without it the safety net providers simply cannot continue to provide quality care for the residents who need it the most.

       These services included vital mental health services treating serious and persistent mental illness for adults, children and families.

       And, these visits include supporting emergency, inpatient, and prescription assistance for those who would not otherwise have access to the care.

   Some crucial health care programs, such as mammograms, childhood immunizations, nutrition programs that control obesity and early childhood interventions will be discontinued if this portion of the Health Levy is not renewed.

   Safety net providers in Kansas City deliver more than $130 million dollars in uncompensated health care services every year. When voters first approved this levy in 2005, that figure was $56 million for Truman alone. This portion of the Health Levy generates approximately $15 million dollars per year to help cover a portion of those costs. The need has increased significantly since 2005 and the city’s safety net clinics have stepped up to meet that need.

   The Health Levy supports safety net providers that impact our local economy, including:

       More than 8,500 jobs through employing doctors, nurses and other health care professionals

       Millions in capital investments such as the $4 million Cabot Clinic on Kansas City’s Westside

       Hundreds of thousands of dollars and hours invested in outreach to neighborhoods, community centers and businesses to support health in Kansas City

       In addition, Safety Net Clinics pay more than $5 million in earnings tax

It’s the right thing to do.