SJ0047

LRB096 11879 DRJ 22882 r






1

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, In times of economic downturn, states look to 
3
reduce spending to stay within the available resources; and

 
4
    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois currently is at the lowest 
5
federal Medicaid matching rate (50%); and

 
6
    WHEREAS, Community service providers provide Medicaid 
7
funded health care, mental health, substance abuse and 
8
community based disability services; and

 
9
    WHEREAS, Community service providers are often in the top 
10
five largest employers in their counties; and

 
11
    WHEREAS, Downturns in the economy often result in an 
12
increased need for services provided by community disability, 
13
mental health and substance abuse services and supports 
14
providers; and

 
15
    WHEREAS, The Medicaid program is the health care safety net 
16
for low-income children, families, the elderly and the 
17
disabled; and

 
18
    WHEREAS, A significant portion of the services and supports 
19
provided by community service providers receive federal 
 


 






SJ0047
- 2 -
LRB096 11879 DRJ 22882 r




1
reimbursement from the Medicaid program; and

 
2
    WHEREAS, Increases in the Federal Medical Assistance 
3
Percentage, also known as FMAP, decrease pressure on states to 
4
cut spending and raise taxes; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, Increases in FMAP reduce the need to cut Medicaid 
6
eligibility, benefits and rates; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, Increases in FMAP reduce the necessity of 
8
community providers significantly funded by Medicaid to lay off 
9
staff, reduce services and expand waiting lists when reductions 
10
in funding are made, thereby providing ongoing economic 
11
stimulus by the staff's continued employment and spending being 
12
maintained rather than reduced; and

 
13
    WHEREAS, Increased demand for community disability, mental 
14
health, and substance abuse services requires community 
15
providers to be fully staffed to safely respond to those 
16
demands; and

 
17
    WHEREAS, An FMAP increase would allow the State of Illinois 
18
to increase General Revenue spending to maintain community 
19
services and supports, and therefore leverage greater amounts 
20
of total dollars; and

 
 


 






SJ0047
- 3 -
LRB096 11879 DRJ 22882 r




1
    WHEREAS, An FMAP increase would help the State of Illinois 
2
meet its current commitments to the Medicaid program and also 
3
be able to withstand future enrollment increases for current 
4
eligibility groups that will occur with the recession; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, It is critically important that the State of 
6
Illinois respond to the pressure of its current fiscal crisis 
7
in a responsible way to those who are currently aided by 
8
Medicaid spending; therefore, be it

 
9
    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
10
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
11
CONCURRING HEREIN, that we do hereby direct the use of 
12
increased FMAP to support current efforts to serve the needs of 
13
beneficiaries and maintain or enhance those efforts as 
14
appropriate; and be it further

 
15
    RESOLVED, That neither the Governor, nor the Governor's 
16
Office of Management and Budget, nor the Illinois Department of 
17
Healthcare and Family Services will be permitted to allocate 
18
increased FMAP funds for other non-Medicaid programs; and be it 
19
further

 
20
    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
21
delivered to the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the 
22
United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the 
 


 






SJ0047
- 4 -
LRB096 11879 DRJ 22882 r




1
United States House of Representatives, and to each member of 
2
the Illinois Congressional delegation.