29march00.....3816h

2000 SESSION

00-2137

05/01

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 22

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This house joint resolution urges the President of the United States and Congress to instruct the Health Care Financing Administration and its fiscal intermediaries that the legislative intent under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 has been accomplished; and urges the President of the United States and Congress to act to eliminate further Medicare revenue reductions of the Act to protect beneficiaries' access to quality care when needed.

29march00.....3816h

00-2137

05/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand

Whereas, the Medicare program has made medical services available to millions of senior and disabled citizens since its inception in 1965; and

Whereas, the success of the Medicare program relies on a fair and responsible partnership between the public and private sector to provide appropriate medical services for all eligible individuals; and

Whereas, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included the most comprehensive reforms to the Medicare program since its passage, resulting in a range of unintended consequences that are affecting the New Hampshire medical service delivery system accessed by our most frail and needy citizens and provided through hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies; and

Whereas, the Medicare revenue reductions projected by the Balanced Budget Act were intended only to slow the growth of Medicare expense, but have actually resulted in a reduction of Medicare expense that brings the 1999 expense below that of 1997 despite inflation factors of 3-5 percent during that time; and

Whereas, New Hampshire Medicare reimbursement to hospitals will be reduced by as much as an additional $200,000,000 over the next 4 years above the reductions already experienced; and

Whereas New Hampshire home health agencies reimbursement has been reduced by $24,000,000 to date and will be reduced by an additional 15 percent of the present Medicare reimbursement by October 1, 2001; and

Whereas, further reductions will seriously damage both beneficiary access to care and the ability of providers to continue to provide needed levels of service; and

Whereas, the ameliorative measures prescribed by the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 provide too little relief, restoring less than 10 percent of the reduction of Medicare revenue resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives in General Court convened:

That the President of the United States and Congress instruct the Health Care Financing Administration and its fiscal intermediaries that the legislative intent under the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 has been accomplished; and

That the President of the United States and Congress act to eliminate further Medicare revenue reductions of the Act and thereby protect beneficiaries' access to quality care when needed; and

That copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, be forwarded by the house clerk to the President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation.

Approved May 26, 2000