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WHEREAS, growing numbers of underinsured Missourians, an increasingly price-driven health care marketplace, and continued growth in enrollment of Medicaid beneficiaries are having critical implications for the future soundness of Missouri's health care safety net that serves a large portion of low-income and uninsured Missourians; and
WHEREAS, despite the nation's robust economy, certain populations in the state of Missouri continue to remain outside the medical and economic mainstream, having little or no access to stable health care coverage; and
WHEREAS, these populations include uninsured citizens of Missouri, low-income underinsured individuals, Medicaid beneficiaries, and patients with special health care needs who rely on safety providers for their care; and
WHEREAS, institutions and physicians in the state of Missouri that have a high level of demonstrated commitment to caring for the uninsured and underserved patients of Missouri are experiencing serious financial problems due to that commitment; and
WHEREAS, these providers in the state include ConnectCare in St. Louis, Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City and University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia, the only state-owned acute care facility serving the state's rural population, comprise Missouri's health care safety net; and
WHEREAS, the number of financially vulnerable people in the state is growing, the direct and indirect subsidies that have helped finance uncompensated care are eroding, and the rapid growth of Medicaid managed care are having significant adverse effects:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Missouri Senate, Ninety-first General Assembly, First Regular Session, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby establish a Joint Interim Committee on Health Care to study the current funding system for safety net providers and develop legislative and budgetary policy that will ensure appropriate compensation as well as preserve the long-term viability of Missouri's safety net providers in recognition of the critical contribution these health care programs have made to the welfare of Missouri's citizens; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and five members of the House of Representatives, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said committee prepare a report, together with its recommendations for any legislative action it deems necessary for submission to the General Assembly prior to the commencement of the Second Regular Session of the Ninety- first General Assembly; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Senate Research, the Committee on Legislative Research, and House Research shall provide such legal, research, clerical, technical and bill drafting services as the committee may require in the performance of its duties; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the actual and necessary expenses of the committee, its members and any staff personnel assigned to the committee incurred in attending meetings of the committee or any subcommittee thereof shall be paid from the Joint Contingent Fund.