Madame Chair, Mr. Chairman & Task Force Members:

I am Michael Sheedy, Associate for Health at the Florida Catholic Conference.  In the Catholic community, our faith informs us that every human being is made in God’s image and likeness.  Because this is so, every person possesses an inherent dignity that must be preserved and enhanced from conception to natural death; and every person has both the right and responsibility to realize the fullness of that dignity.  This happens best when all members of society protect and promote those rights, with a special priority to addressing the health care needs of the poor and underserved.

In contrast to those individualistic traditions that define rights in terms of spheres of individual autonomy and maintain that the government – while forbidden to interfere with these rights – must protect them, our tradition describes human rights in terms of the interdependence of personal and social life.  It demands that social structures be arranged to promote and protect the dignity and well-being of all persons.  Among the rights held in our tradition is health care, without which human potential is seriously impeded, if not denied.

Against this standard, our state’s health system, as has been documented throughout your task force’s process, is critically failing in terms of justice and is getting worse.  The system does not meet the needs of all residents of Florida.

We are committed to promoting a more just health system, one that makes compassionate care accessible and affordable for every resident of the state, and we are greatly encouraged by the work that you are undertaking.

Many of you are not familiar with our approach to this endeavor, so I highlight for you “foundational values” that a workgroup of the Health Affairs Advisory Forum – a group of professionals from Florida’s Catholic health ministries – has developed.  These include:

1.  HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND EACH PERSON HAS INHERENT DIGNITY.

There is a human right to basic and compassionate quality health care, regardless of age, income, illness, or condition of life and a morally responsible society has an obligation to provide it.

2.  PERSONS ARE ESSENTIALLY SOCIAL AND INTERDEPENDENT.

The health of individuals and the health of society as a whole are inextricably linked.

Persons have a right and duty to participate in the health care system to meet their own needs and to promote the common good.

3.  SOCIETY HAS A SPECIAL DUTY TO CARE FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE.

There is a social responsibility to provide appropriate quality health care for the uninsured and underinsured.  Those with greater needs should receive the services that address their needs.

4.  RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF HEALTH CARE RESOURCES.

A just health system must acknowledge limits and seek to set appropriate priorities within the health system.

5.   HEALTH CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICE.

Health care should never be reduced to a mere commodity nor be allocated solely on the ability to pay.

6.  HEALTH CARE REFORM SHOULD RESPECT THE RELIGIOUS & ETHICAL VALUES OF BOTH INDIVIDUALS & INSTITUTIONS.

The role and values of religiously affiliated health care institutions and plans should be protected.

The Health Affairs Advisory Forum is asking the Catholic Health Executives Commission to approve concrete recommendations for you.  I will be forwarding those to you shortly.

Thank you for your consideration today.  Be assured of our sincere support for your undertaking as a Task Force.

FOUNDATIONAL VALUES

GUIDING THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE’S &
CATHOLIC HEALTH MINISTRIES’
APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE ACCESSIBILITY

1.  HUMAN LIFE IS SACRED AND EACH PERSON HAS INHERENT DIGNITY.

There is a human right to basic and compassionate quality health care, regardless of age, income, illness, or condition of life and a morally responsible society has an obligation to provide it.

2.   PERSONS ARE ESSENTIALLY SOCIAL AND INTERDEPENDENT.

The health of individuals and the health of society as a whole are inextricably linked.

Persons have a right and duty to participate in the health care system to meet their own needs and to promote the common good.

3.   SOCIETY HAS A SPECIAL DUTY TO CARE FOR THE POOR AND VULNERABLE.

There is a social responsibility to provide appropriate quality health care for the uninsured and underinsured.  Those with greater needs should receive the services that address their needs.

4.    RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP REQUIRES CAREFUL ALLOCATION OF HEALTH CARE RESOURCES.

A just health system must acknowledge limits and seek to set appropriate priorities within the health system.

5.    HEALTH CARE IS AN ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICE.

Health care should never be reduced to a mere commodity nor be allocated solely on the ability to pay.

6.     HEALTH CARE REFORM SHOULD RESPECT THE RELIGIOUS & ETHICAL VALUES OF BOTH INDIVIDUALS & INSTITUTIONS.

The role and values of religiously affiliated health care institutions and plans should be protected.