HJ0055

LRB094 12126 HSS 45457 r






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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Andrew H. Melczer, Ph.D., who passed away on 
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February 7, 2005,  served the Illinois State Medical Society 
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(ISMS), its member physicians, and all the  citizens of the 
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State of Illinois for more than 20 years; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer monitored the evolving health care 
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system of Illinois and the United States, developed ISMS 
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legislative responses to ensure that physicians could practice 
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quality medical care, and analyzed proposed legislation 
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related to the health care system; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer provided support to physicians 
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seeking to understand and respond to the evolving health care 
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marketplace; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer was a developer of the Illinois 
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Managed Care Reform and Patients Rights Act to protect 
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physicians and patients from managed care interference in the 
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delivery of health care; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer authored instructional brochures and 
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model policy documents and developed seminars to assist 
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Illinois physicians with the understanding and implementation 
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of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
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Act; and
 

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    WHEREAS, These HIPAA model policies and procedures have 
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been adapted and used by physicians across the country; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer served in leadership roles as the ISMS 
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representative to the Workgroup for Electronic Data 
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Interchange and guided Illinois physicians with the 
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implementation and use of electronic health records; and
 

 


 






HJ0055
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LRB094 12126 HSS 45457 r




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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer gave generously of his time and 
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expertise to serve on boards and commissions, including the 
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Illinois Health Care Cost Containment Council, the Hospital 
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Report Care Advisory Council, and the Illinois Health Care 
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Credentials Council; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer analyzed and recommended ISMS 
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responses to federal legislative and regulatory Medicare and 
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Medicaid proposals to determine impact on Illinois physicians; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, Dr. Melczer encouraged all to "Find work that you 
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love and do it well, but don't take it so seriously that you 
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forget what really matters in life. Show your family you love 
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them every day. Make this world a better place by sharing your 
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time and talents. Teach yourself something new. Laugh. Be a 
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good person, and thank God daily for all of our blessings."; 
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therefore, be it 
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
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SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we honor the memory of Andrew H. 
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Melczer, Ph.D., for his valuable and numerous contributions to 
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the quality of health care in Illinois and for his many years 
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of outstanding public service; and be it further 
 

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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Dr. Melczer's family with our heartfelt thanks and 
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as an expression of our deepest sympathy, respect, and esteem.