Cincinnati to set up public health care plan

"Cincinnati city officials have 90 days to come up with a proposal that would create CincyCare, a new health care plan where the insured would use the city's health clinics," after the Cincinnati City Council approved the idea last week. The Council will have to vote again on specifics, including cost, after those details are worked up by the city manager's office. (Source: "CincyCare to be detailed," Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov. 1, 2007.) Under CincyCare, individuals who live or work in Cincinnati could receive care at city health clinics. "Council member John Cranley, who proposed CincyCare, said that a proposed employer tax break of $500 per participant could cost the city about $2.5 million. However, increased fees paid to the city Health Department could help offset the cost of CincyCare." (Source: "Cincinnati City Council Approves Measure To Establish CincyCare," Great Cincinnati Health Watch, Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.)