SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 388 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 10, 2007 Requesting the Department of Medical Assistance Services to study the effects of modifications to the health insurance public subsidy program. Report. ---------- Patrons-- Blevins and Rerras; Delegate: Hamilton ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, public funds may be used to support insurance subsidy programs to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to access employer-sponsored or other health insurance; and

WHEREAS, providing public subsidy funds to cover private insurance premiums is required to be cost-effective by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and

WHEREAS, three premium assistance programs, the Health Insurance Premium Payment program, which pays premiums for employer-group health insurance for Medicaid-eligible individuals; the FAMIS Select program, which subsidizes private health insurance for families with access to such coverage; and the Medicare Premium Assistance program, which covers cost-sharing for certain individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, are administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Medical Assistance Services be requested to study the effects of modifications to the health insurance public subsidy program.  

In conducting its study, the Department shall examine the potential for program expansion with consumer protection mechanisms and the impact of switching from mandatory to voluntary enrollment. The Department shall accept input from stakeholders throughout this process.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department for this study, upon request.

The Department shall complete its meetings for the first year by September 1, 2007, and for the second year by September 1, 2008, and for each year shall submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Joint Commission on Health Care an executive summary and report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.