HJ0055 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0055 LRB094 12126 HSS 45457 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Andrew H. Melczer, Ph.D., who passed away on February 7, 2005, served the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), its member physicians, and all the citizens of the State of Illinois for more than 20 years; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer monitored the evolving health care system of Illinois and the United States, developed ISMS legislative responses to ensure that physicians could practice quality medical care, and analyzed proposed legislation related to the health care system; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer provided support to physicians seeking to understand and respond to the evolving health care marketplace; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer was a developer of the Illinois Managed Care Reform and Patients Rights Act to protect physicians and patients from managed care interference in the delivery of health care; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer authored instructional brochures and model policy documents and developed seminars to assist Illinois physicians with the understanding and implementation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; and

WHEREAS, These HIPAA model policies and procedures have been adapted and used by physicians across the country; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer served in leadership roles as the ISMS representative to the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange and guided Illinois physicians with the implementation and use of electronic health records; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer gave generously of his time and expertise to serve on boards and commissions, including the Illinois Health Care Cost Containment Council, the Hospital Report Care Advisory Council, and the Illinois Health Care Credentials Council; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer analyzed and recommended ISMS responses to federal legislative and regulatory Medicare and Medicaid proposals to determine impact on Illinois physicians; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer encouraged all to "Find work that you love and do it well, but don't take it so seriously that you forget what really matters in life. Show your family you love them every day. Make this world a better place by sharing your time and talents. Teach yourself something new. Laugh. Be a good person, and thank God daily for all of our blessings."; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we honor the memory of Andrew H. Melczer, Ph.D., for his valuable and numerous contributions to the quality of health care in Illinois and for his many years of outstanding public service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Melczer's family with our heartfelt thanks and as an expression of our deepest sympathy, respect, and esteem.