H.J.R. 26

1

RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO APPROPRIATE
2 ADEQUATE FUNDS FOR MEDICARE
3 PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE COUNSELING
4 2006 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Tim M. Cosgrove
7 Senate Sponsor: Patrice M. Arent
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges adequate federal funding for Medicare
12 prescription drug coverage counseling.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . urges the United States Congress to appropriate adequate funds to compensate the
16 State Health Insurance Information Program that provides counseling for the
17 Medicare Prescription Drug Program.
18 Special Clauses:
19 None
20
21 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22 WHEREAS, Medicare Part D, a prescription drug benefit program, has an enrollment
23 deadline of May 15, 2006;
24 WHEREAS, many senior citizens and their families find the options and enrollment
25 procedure confusing;
26 WHEREAS, approximately 12% of senior citizens who were supposed to be
27 automatically enrolled January 1st encountered problems with their coverage;

28 WHEREAS, the Health Insurance Information Program provided by the Area Agencies
29 on Aging through the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services has a responsibility for
30 providing Medicare Part D counseling to the senior citizens in their service area;
31 WHEREAS, to assure effectiveness, client counseling occurs face to face and can take
32 up to two hours, depending on the complexity of client needs, including the type of medication
33 needed;
34 WHEREAS, these programs have received little if any additional federal funds to
35 provide this service;
36 WHEREAS, the number of requests for assistance has more than quadrupled since
37 October 2005, with the increase being for requests for information and assistance with the
38 Medicare Part D enrollment;
39 WHEREAS, the majority of the Area Agencies on Aging, in responding to the requests
40 for Medicare Part D assistance, have already expended their Health Insurance Information
41 funds six months into the fiscal year;
42 WHEREAS, the Federal Government has appropriated funds to promote the enrollment
43 of Medicare Part D; and
44 WHEREAS, although the Federal Government has indicated that the Utah Department
45 of Health will receive a refund for enrolling those who are eligible for both Medicare and
46 Medicaid, there are still several thousand senior citizens who do not have dual eligibility, have
47 not yet enrolled, and will seek assistance from the Area Agencies on Aging:
48 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
49 urges the United States Congress to appropriate adequate funds to compensate the State Health
50 Insurance Information Program that provides counseling for the Medicare Prescription Drug
51 Program.
52 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the majority
53 leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
54 the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, each of Utah's Area Agencies on
55 Aging, and the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services.

Legislative Review Note
as of 1-31-06 1:26 PM

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