A report released in June by Families USA spotlights the concerns of mayors nationwide, who say that cities are on the front lines of the nation’s growing healthcare crisis. Skyrocketing healthcare costs for municipal employees and the rising tide of uninsured people provided with safety net services threaten to force cuts in other basic city services, such as police and fire protection, schools, parks, and the repair of city streets and other infrastructure.
The key conclusion of the report, America’s Health Care Crisis: Cities on the Front Lines, is that mayors and city councils must aggressively deal with healthcare challenges on a daily basis, while federal officials delay action on meaningful reform.
Among the survey’s findings, cities are experiencing new demands for health clinics, hospital emergency departments, mental health services, and problems affecting schools. Also, cities are seeking significant increases in eligibility levels for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Read the report.
