HJ0011 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0011 LRB096 06343 DRJ 16426 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, In times of economic downturn, states look to reduce spending to stay within the available resources; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois currently is at the lowest federal Medicaid matching rate (50%); and

WHEREAS, Community service providers provide Medicaid funded health care, mental health, substance abuse and community based disability services; and

WHEREAS, Community service providers are often in the top five largest employers in their counties; and

WHEREAS, Downturns in the economy often result in an increased need for services provided by community disability, mental health and substance abuse services and supports providers; and

WHEREAS, The Medicaid program is the health care safety net for low-income children, families, the elderly and the disabled; and

WHEREAS, A significant portion of the services and supports provided by community service providers receive federal reimbursement from the Medicaid program; and

WHEREAS, Increases in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, also known as FMAP, decrease pressure on states to cut spending and raise taxes; and

WHEREAS, Increases in FMAP reduce the need to cut Medicaid eligibility, benefits and rates; and

WHEREAS, Increases in FMAP reduce the necessity of community providers significantly funded by Medicaid to lay off staff, reduce services and expand waiting lists when reductions in funding are made, thereby providing ongoing economic stimulus by the staff's continued employment and spending being maintained rather than reduced; and

WHEREAS, Increased demand for community disability, mental health, and substance abuse services requires community providers to be fully staffed to safely respond to those demands; and

WHEREAS, An FMAP increase would allow the State of Illinois to increase General Revenue spending to maintain community services and supports, and therefore leverage greater amounts of total dollars; and

WHEREAS, An FMAP increase would help the State of Illinois meet its current commitments to the Medicaid program and also be able to withstand future enrollment increases for current eligibility groups that will occur with the recession; and

WHEREAS, It is critically important that the State of Illinois respond to the pressure of its current fiscal crisis in a responsible way to those who are currently aided by Medicaid spending; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we do hereby direct the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to amend its State Medicaid Plan to reflect that with the increased FMAP, current efforts in serving the needs of beneficiaries will be maintained and expanded in proportion to the FMAP generated by these services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That neither the Governor, nor the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, nor the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will be permitted to allocate increased FMAP funds for other non-Medicaid programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.