Cape Cod Times, May 30, 2006

Cape Care concept gets hopeful start

By ROBIN LORD
STAFF WRITER

Even though a state health insurance program designed to cover all residents looms, voters in nine of 12 Cape towns approved a nonbinding resolution asking the county to study the feasibility of a single-payer health plan solely for Cape Cod.

The decisions came mostly by voice vote that were mainly overwhelming approvals, according to Mary Zepernick, a member of the group promoting ''Cape Care,'' a universal health care program that would cover all Barnstable County residents.

Sandwich, Dennis and Chatham town meetings did not approve the resolution.

Before passing it, Harwich voters amended the resolution so that participation in a Cape Cod single-payer program would be voluntary for residents.

Falmouth is expected to consider the matter at its fall town meeting and Mashpee and Barnstable are still up in the air, Zepernick said.

The state has estimated that about 14,000 Cape Codders are uninsured. The county's annual survey, however, found that between 27,442 and 41,163 Cape residents have no health insurance.

Cape Care is a concept envisioned by a group of human service, business and health care providers.

The informal group, whose members include Provincetown physician Dr. Brian O'Malley, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce executive director Wendy Northcross and Lower/Outer Cape Community Coalition executive director BL Hathaway, has been meeting for about two years.

Generally, the plan would assess a fee to all residents based on income, which would pay for a nonprofit health insurance program to cover everyone. It operates on the concept that, just as schools and public safety are considered rights and are paid for with public dollars, the same should apply to health care.

Much is still needed to be worked out before any proposal is put before voters in an election, Zepernick acknowledged. Among the things to be considered: How those on Medicare and Medicaid would fit into the system, and how much each resident would pay for the program.

Proponents of universal health care say it would get at the root of the health care crisis by addressing cost. Expensive administrative fees seen in private health insurance would be eliminated by a single-payer system, they say.

County Commission chairman William Doherty said that even though he has reservations about the Cape Care program, and even though the resolution does not legally require the county to pursue the issue, he thinks the full board should respond.

''I have to talk to the other commissioners, but obviously there is enough interest in the subject to look at it.''

If the other commissioners agree, they will instruct county health and human services staff to investigate the cost of the program and how it might be put in place.

Zepernick said her group never intended to turn the entire planning process for Cape Care over to the county. Members of the group, which number more than 100, will be helping and enlisting other residents, she said.

Neither she nor Doherty expects any type of public participation until the end of the summer or early next fall.

Robin Lord can be reached at rlord@capecodonline.com.

(Published: May 30, 2006)

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