Executive Order 14

In THE NAME AND By THe AutHority oF THe Stare oF lowa

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER FOURTEEN WHEREAS, __ the State of lowa provides the promise of a high quality of life to its residents; and

WHEREAS, the people of this state are our most valuable resource; and

WHEREAS, the overall productivity of this state declines whenever barriers preclude residents from gaining full access to quality health-care services; and

WHEREAS, — existing barriers preclude many lowans from gaining access to quality health-care services; and

WHEREAS, the State of lowa currently enjoys an unparalleled opportunity to become a national leader im the treatment and prevention of health-related illnesses, and

of health care across this state; and

WHEREAS, all residents of the State of lowa, as consumers, are entitled to lend their voices to

policy discussions, by participating in the development of a comprehensive quality health-care policy for this state; and

WHEREAS, _ |, as governor, believe that it is imperative for state government to partner with health- care consumers in an effort to penetrate the barriers that surround the state's health-care sysiem.

NOW, THEREFORE, |, Thomas J. Vilsack, Governor of the State of lowa, by the power vested in me by

the laws and the constitution of the State of lowa hereby order and proclaim the establishment of the

HEALTH CONSUMER ADVISORY COUNCIL. This Council shall operate within the frarnework and guidelines set forth in Articles I through III, below.

ARTICLE E: PURPOSE AND FOCUS The Counc! has been established to advise the Governor and Licutenant Governor on health-related public policy ixsues. The Council will serve to broaden the pool of participants who engage in the development of health-care polcy within this state by linking state pobcy-makers with health-care consumers. The Council has been established to serve the following functions: 1. to identify important health-related issues by surveying state residents, 2. tw cnhance the leadership skills of health-care consumers and advocates;

3. to facilitate communication between consumers and policy-makers by providing a forum for discussing health-related public policy issues;

4. to create a partnership between consumers and state government in an effort to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that may limit an individual's access to quality health-care.

ARTICLE I: STRUCTURE

The Hoaorable Sally J. Pederson, Lieutenant Governor, shall be named Honorary Chair of the Council. Other Council members shall be appoinied by the governor.

The Council shall be composed of citizens representing the state's diverse health-care

consumer pool. Representation shall include persons farmbar with difficulues encountered by health-care consumers with special service delivery needs.

COURTESY STATE LIBRARY OF IOWA

Representation on this Council shall include, but sot be limited to: a parcat of an asthmatic child, a patient undergoing cardsac rehabilitation, a mental bealth climc patent, 2 small business owner, a farmer; a factory worker; and a parent with a child enrolled im the state's HAWK-I plan Health-care provaders, professional advocates, and insurcrs may participate im this initiative by serving 25 a resource to the Council, however, they may not serve on the Council as voting members.

The Council shall form a Consumer Health Network of lowans from across the state. The Council shall solicit input from the Network, through various media, when evaluating health-care services provided and/or funded by state government and other providers. The Council shall place a special emphasis on consumer perceptions of the existing bealth- care system.

‘The Council shall prepare and submit a preliminary report of its findings to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Director of Human Services, and Director of Public Health by September 1, 2000, The Council shall submit a final report outlining its findings, conclusions, and recommendations by April |, 2001,

ARTICLE I: FUNDING

Funding for the Health Consumer Advisory Council shall be provided for by the lowe Department of Human Services and the lowa Department of Public Health, through contributions and donations earmarked for the purposes set forth in this Executive Order.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOP, | have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the Great Seal of lowa to be affixed. Done in Des Moines, lowa on this the 25"Uay of February in the year of our Lord two

Chester J. Culver, Secretary of State

COURTESY STATE LIBRARY OF IOWA