Access to Health Care
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	For over a decade, the faith-based institutional investors and other socially responsible investors who make up The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) have responded to the public health crisis in emerging markets. Read more about what we're doing here.
	Issues / Working Groups Access to Health Care Contract Supplier System Corporate Governance Enabling Access to Capital Environmental Justice Global Warming Promoting Human Rights Violence & Militarization of Society Water & Food Resources Access to Health Care Contract Supplier System Corporate Governance Enabling Access to Capital Environmental Justice Global Warming Promoting Human Rights Violence & Militarization of Society Water & Food

The Access to Health Care Working Group works to expand access to health care for all. We advocate for equitable pharmaceutical pricing which benefits both consumers and shareholders. Within the group, an HIV/AIDS Caucus draws particular attention to the unique challenges the HIV/AIDS-TB-Malaria pandemics present to corporations and shareholders. Where government does not fulfill its obligation to provide health care, we encourage corporations to do so for employees and their families.

Mission Statement

We believe that every person has the right of access to health care and to an environment that supports health and wellness. To that end we commit ourselves to advocate for safe, therapeutically effective health products and services, available to everyone at reasonable cost.

Health Care Reform in the US

The need for reform:

• Since 2000, the number of uninsured has increased by more than 20 percent, reaching 47 million in 2006. In addition, rising health care costs are squeezing many middle-income Americans with insurance, who report difficulties paying medical bills due to a lack of adequate coverage. People with low and moderate incomes are most at risk of lacking coverage through an employer and most at risk of being uninsured. They also spend the largest share of their incomes on premiums and out-of-pocket health care costs.
  From the Commonweath Fund's Report, "Road to Health Insurance for All: Principles of Health Care Reform"
  
  
• The number of uninsured people in the United States continues to escalate and the number of workers without employer-sponsored insurance coverage has increased. The percentage of people covered by employment-based health insurance has decreased to 59.5 percent.
  From the U.S. Census Bureau report, "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005"

Call for corporate engagement

• In the decade since the failure of the Clinton reform plan, the faith community has continued to call for accessible and affordable health care for all people in a just and compassionate health care system. Recognizing that universal access to healthcare is a societal good, serving the individual, the common good and business, we have advocated for health care form in the United States. As long-term institutional investors we recognize the economic burden providing health benefits for employees places on American corporations. We believe it is in the economic interest of portfolio companies to ensure that all Americans have access to healthcare that is affordable and provided equitably.
  
  
• Now, we are using the financial and moral power of faith-based investors to encourage American business to also address this issue. Shareholders interests and the public interest here are aligned - we need comprehensive health care reform in this country. We urge America's corporations to adopt principles for comprehensive health care reform (such as those based upon principles reported by the Institute of Medicine:
  
  1. Health care coverage should be universal.
  2. Health care coverage should be continuous.
  3. Health care coverage should be affordable to individuals and families.
  4. The health insurance strategy should be affordable and sustainable for society.
  5. Health insurance should enhance health and well being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered, and equitable.