S.J.R. 15

1

JOINT RESOLUTION URGING MEDICAID
2 REFORM
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges the United States Congress to reject cuts to
10 Medicaid and work with states to institute Medicaid reform.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . urges the United States Congress to reject any budget reduction and budget
14 reconciliation process for fiscal year 2006 related to Medicaid reform that would
15 shift additional costs to the states and to reject any cap on federal Medicaid funding;
16 . urges the United States Congress to work with state policymakers to enact reforms
17 that will result in Medicaid cost savings for both the states and the Federal
18 Government; and
19 . urges the United States Congress to establish a benefits program for those who are
20 eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare to be totally funded by Medicare.
21 Special Clauses:
22 None
23
24 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 WHEREAS, the Medicaid program provides access to health care for Utah's most
26 vulnerable citizens, including low-income children, parents, pregnant women, people with
27 disabilities, and senior citizens;

28 WHEREAS, growth in Medicaid spending per capita has remained relatively low when
29 compared to private health insurance premiums;
30 WHEREAS, current federal and state Medicaid expenditures are growing at a rate of
31 12% per year and averaging almost 22% of states' annual budgets primarily because of the
32 recent economic downturn, rising health care costs, and an increase in the aging population;
33 and
34 WHEREAS, new funding challenges for state government will become more acute as
35 states absorb new costs to help implement the Medicaid Modernization Act:
36 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
37 urges the United States Congress to reject any budget reduction and budget reconciliation
38 process for fiscal year 2006 related to Medicaid reform that would shift additional costs to the
39 states.
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the United States Congress to
41 reject any cap on federal funding for the Medicaid program, whether in the form of an
42 allotment, an allocation, or a block grant.
43 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the United States Congress to
44 work with state policymakers to enact reforms that will result in Medicaid cost savings for both
45 the states and the Federal Government.
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges the United States Congress to
47 establish a benefits program for the "dual eligible" population, people eligible for both
48 Medicaid and Medicare, that would be 100% funded by Medicare instead of Medicaid.
49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority
50 Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
51 and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-2-05 10:40 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel