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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.4137 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:House Introduced Date:19990520 Primary Sponsor:Edge All Sponsors:Edge and H. Brown Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\bbm\9362som99.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:19990622 Subject:Congress requests to revise Interim Payment System and improve Medicare home health care, Medical, beneficiaries History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ House 19990622 Received from Senate Senate 19990622 Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence House 19990603 Adopted, sent to Senate House 19990602 Committee report: Favorable 24 HIMR House 19990520 Introduced, referred to Committee 24 HIMR Versions of This Bill Revised on June 2, 1999 - Word format
COMMITTEE REPORT
June 2, 1999
H. 4137
S. Printed 6/2/99--H.
Read the first time May 20, 1999.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4137), memorializing the United States Congress to revise provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:
RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.
MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REVISE PROVISIONS OF THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997 RELATED TO AN INTERIM PAYMENT SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES IN RULES FOR MEDICARE HOME HEALTH CARE BENEFICIARIES TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION.
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is concerned about the health and well-being of our elderly and disabled residents who rely on the Medicare program to meet the cost of their health care needs; and
Whereas, South Carolina, like most other states, anticipates an increasing population of seniors, disabled persons, and others requiring health care services; and
Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly recognizes that our residents should have access to high quality, cost effective home health care services through the Medicare program wherever feasible and justified; and
Whereas, the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included significant Medicare payment reforms affecting coverage in payment of home health services which create significant risks that access to Medicare home health services will be diminished or eliminated because these payment reforms base payment rates on 1994 levels of care, fail to recognize changes in health care needs and services since 1994, and fail to adequately account for the wide variation in care needs of individual patients; and
Whereas, Medicare beneficiaries who need care the most and who are at the greatest risk for cutbacks are being denied access to care as the result of these payment reforms which discourage home health care agencies caring for patients with high-care needs that have high costs; and
Whereas, the cutback of home health services will lead to increased use of more costly settings like emergency rooms, hospitals, and nursing homes; and
Whereas, home health agencies are an important source of employment in South Carolina communities, and cuts required under the new Medicare payment system will lead to the loss of employment by our citizens; and
Whereas, Medicare home health cuts will likely shift service needs and costs to state Medicaid programs, especially nursing home care, resulting in an unfunded mandate to South Carolina; and
Whereas, the portion of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 calling for an Interim Payment System was based on financial projections which overestimated the continued growth of home health care; and
Whereas, the Interim Payment System provisions are not needed to slow the growth of home health care; and
Whereas, Congress and the Administration should work jointly to develop the necessary amendments to the Interim Payment System so that services to Medicare home health care beneficiaries are not disrupted, interrupted, or eliminated. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That, by this resolution, the South Carolina General Assembly memorializes the United States Congress to revise provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 relating to the Interim Payment System and to provide for the development of certain amendments or changes in rules for Medicare home health care beneficiaries to improve their situation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, and Donna Shalala, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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