H.J.R. 5

1

JOINT RESOLUTION URGING SUPPORT OF
2 MEDICAID LONG-TERM CARE FUNDING OF
3 HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS
4 2008 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Michael E. Noel
7 Senate Sponsor: Gene Davis
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature urging Utah's congressional delegation to
12 support Medicaid long-term care funding for home and community-based supports,
13 state flexibility to manage long-term care costs, and cost efficiency and individual
14 choice.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 . urges Utah's congressional delegation to support the continued shift of Medicaid
18 long-term care funding toward home and community-based supports;
19 . urges the delegation to support providing states with the flexibility and tools needed
20 to manage Medicaid long-term care costs in a fiscally responsible manner;
21 . urges the delegation to support providing Medicaid long-term care and supports in
22 the most appropriate and cost-effective manner while maintaining individual choice;
23 and
24 . urges the delegation to ensure the active participation of people with disabilities and
25 older Americans in the ongoing design, implementation, and review of Medicaid's
26 long-term care system.
27 Special Clauses:

28 None
29
30 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31 WHEREAS, Utah's population is aging and Utahns with disabilities are living longer,
32 healthier lives;
33 WHEREAS, thousands of Utahns with disabilities and older Utahns currently need or
34 will need long-term care and support to live productive lives in their communities;
35 WHEREAS, facility-based care is a mandatory benefit and community-based supports
36 are an optional benefit of Medicaid;
37 WHEREAS, long-term care accounts for over 25% of all of Utah Medicaid spending;
38 WHEREAS, nearly 60% of long-term care expenditures in Utah Medicaid are for
39 facility-based care;
40 WHEREAS, facility-based care can be up to five times more expensive than
41 community-based support;
42 WHEREAS, Utah Medicaid costs are growing at a rate of approximately 10% per year;
43 WHEREAS, the Utah Legislature's Medicaid Interim Committee is seeking
44 recommendations for containing costs and increasing accountability; and
45 WHEREAS, Medicaid long-term care reform must be a cooperative effort among the
46 federal and state government, the private sector, and the disability and elderly communities:
47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
48 urges Utah's congressional delegation to support the continued shift of Medicaid long-term care
49 funding toward home and community-based supports.
50 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges Utah's congressional
51 delegation to support providing states with the flexibility and tools needed to manage Medicaid
52 long-term care costs in a fiscally responsible manner.
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges Utah's congressional
54 delegation to support providing Medicaid long-term care and supports in the most appropriate
55 and cost-effective manner while maintaining individual choice.
56 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature urges Utah's congressional
57 delegation to ensure the active participation of people with disabilities and older Americans in
58 the ongoing design, implementation, and review of Medicaid's long-term care system.

59 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the members of
60 Utah's congressional delegation, the members of the Utah Legislature's Medicaid Interim
61 Committee, and the Disability Law Center.




Legislative Review Note
as of 12-20-07 3:05 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel