SJ0071

LRB096 13081 DRJ 27422 r






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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The Illinois Medicaid program is a joint 
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federal-state program to support medical services for certain 
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portions of the low income population; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Approximately 2.5 million Illinois residents 
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receive some Medicaid services and it is the primary source of 
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medical coverage for more than one out of six residents; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois Medicaid expenses have grown from $11.8 
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billion in FY2005 to $12.4 billion in FY2008; and
 
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    WHEREAS, FY2009 expenses are likely to exceed $13 billion 
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or about one-quarter of the State's annual operating 
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appropriations; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The State operating budget is difficult to 
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understand as it pertains to Medicaid since it confounds 
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changes in payment cycles, eligibility standards, and 
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inflation-related adjustments built into existing programs; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois will receive federal 
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stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
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of 2009 (ARRA) to support Medicaid services; and

 
 


 






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LRB096 13081 DRJ 27422 r




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    WHEREAS, ARRA has temporarily raised the rate of Illinois 
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federal Medicaid match to 60.48% from 50.32%, which is expected 
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to generate an additional $2.9 billion in federal Medicaid 
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funds between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Upon the expiration of ARRA in 2011, the State of 
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Illinois will experience a Medicaid budget gap of at least $1.3 
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billion; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly of the State of 
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Illinois hereby establishes a joint legislative and 
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gubernatorial commission to launch a review of the future 
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financing of the State's Medicaid program; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the review must include a plan to compensate 
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for the expiration of the federal stimulus program on December 
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31, 2010; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the commission recommend the creation of an 
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executive-level Medicaid management group to address program 
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issues that cut across specific agencies and budgetary 
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categories; and be it further
 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That the commission recommend the issuance of a 
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comprehensive annual report on Illinois Medicaid in a 
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prescribed format that would provide essential data and 
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evaluate the program's operations and effectiveness; and be it 
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further
 
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    RESOLVED, That the commission will be composed of four 
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members appointed by the Illinois House of Representatives, two 
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by the Speaker of the House and two by the Minority Leader; 
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four members appointed by the Illinois Senate, two by the 
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Senate President and two by the Minority Leader; and three 
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members appointed by the Governor of Illinois.