SECOND REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 29

93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5167L.01I

      Whereas, Senate Substitute for Senate Bill No. 539 enacted in the First Regular Session of the Ninety-third General Assembly made sweeping changes to Missouri's Medicaid program, resulting in the elimination of state health benefits for thousands of people living below the federal poverty level; and

            Whereas, under the new legislation, the Medicaid Reform Commission was established to make recommendations to the General Assembly on reforming, redesigning, and restructuring the current Medicaid program which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2008; and

            Whereas, according to estimates by the Department of Social Services, the Medicaid cuts contained in SB 539 will end health insurance coverage for approximately 125,000 Missourians, including:

            (1) 61,000 low-income parents with incomes between 30% and 75% of the federal poverty level, or between $4,800 and $12,100 per year for a family of three, after certain deductions;

            (2) 4,600 senior citizens and people with permanent disabilities with incomes from $6,900 to $9,600 per year for an individual;

            (3) 9,500 low-income workers who have disabilities;

            (4) 3,000 working people with temporary disabilities;

            (5) 1,150 people who recently left welfare for work;

            (6) 13,600 children and adults who would lose coverage because of stricter application requirements and increased paperwork; and

            (7) 24,000 children who would lose Medicaid MC+ coverage because their families are unable to pay increased premiums; and

            Whereas, in addition, SB 539 cut the monthly subsidies to families that have adopted children in Missouri's foster care system by imposing a means test for parents, requires co-payments for most Medicaid services, and allows providers to refuse service to people with poor payment histories; and

            Whereas, under the modified Medicaid program, the state will no longer guarantee payment for dental and optical care, podiatry, hearing aids, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, hospice care, and home oxygen equipment. The funding of such services will be left to the year-to-year appropriations process and the availability of funds; and

            Whereas, while children, pregnant women, and the blind are exempt from the cuts, moderate income families are required to pay premiums to enroll children in the Children's Health Insurance Program, a program designed for families that do not qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance; and

            Whereas, the changes to the eligibility requirements for personal care services may force many elderly and disabled persons into long-term care facilities in violation of federal law; and

            Whereas, legislation has been introduced this session to track various groups of persons who have lost state benefits as a result of the changes in the state Medicaid program after the passage of SB 539. Such measures are an attempt to determine the real impact of the sweeping changes made and loss of the safety net for thousands of Missourians; and

            Whereas, as the elected representatives of the citizens of the State of Missouri, it is our obligation not only to enact legislation, but to follow-up after the passage of legislation to evaluate and determine whether changes are necessary based on the real impact the changes in the law have had on the lives of Missourians:

            Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby support the passage of legislation to monitor the affect that the eligibility cuts made in last year's legislation has had on the quality of life for thousands of Missourians who have lost their eligibility for basic care under the state Medicaid program and to assess the real impact in the everyday lives of those Missourians who are now uninsured and

underinsured; and

            Be it further resolved that the members of the General Assembly are encouraged to support legislation which, in a fiscally responsible manner, restores eligibility to those Missouri residents most adversely affected by the cuts made in the state Medicaid program.