APHA 14 Points on Universal Health Care Toward a National Health Program for the United States

In the early 1990's, the APHA Executive Board enunciated 14 principles for use in evaluating proposals for a National Health Program. These criteria were distilled from policies adopted by the APHA Governing Council over the years. They continue to reflect our views and, we believe, the views of the majority of APHA members.

1. Universal coverage for everyone in the United States.
2. Comprehensive benefits including health maintenance, preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services for all types of illnesses and health conditions.
3. Elimination of financial barriers to care.
4. Financing based on ability to pay.
5. Organization and administration of health care through publicly-accountable mechanisms to assure maximum responsiveness to public needs, with a major role for federal, state, and local government health agencies.
6. Incentives and safeguards to assure effective and efficient organization of services and high-quality care.
7. Fair payment to providers using mechanisms which encourage appropriate treatment by providers and appropriate utilization by consumers.
8. Ongoing evaluation and planning to improve the delivery of health services with consumer and provider participation.
9. Inclusion of disease prevention and health promotion programs.
10. Support of education and training programs for all health workers.
11. Affirmative action programs in the training, employment, and promotion of health workers.
12. Non-discrimination in the delivery of health services.
13. Education of consumers about their health rights and responsibilities.
14. Attention in the organization, staffing, delivery, and payment of care to the needs of all populations including those confronting geographic, physical, cultural, language, and other non-financial barriers to service.