HR0911 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0911 LRB093 22060 WGH 50792 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Department of Central Management Services, after making a decision to eliminate OSF HealthPlans as a managed care plan option for State employees and some State retirees beginning in Fiscal Year 2005, has decided to reopen the bidding process; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 15,000 Illinois residents are covered by OSF HealthPlans as a result of its contract with the State; and

WHEREAS, In 2004, OSF HealthPlans has received an "Excellent" accreditation status, the highest possible level, for its HMO and POS products from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for its 28-county service area in Illinois; this status is based on a review of how a health plan ensures that its members are receiving high quality care and service; and

WHEREAS, Developing a long-term relationship with a trusted family physician can greatly improve the quality of health care; however, the elimination of OSF HealthPlans as a managed care plan option would mean that some State employees who wish to remain in an HMO would not be able to keep their current primary physician, thereby disrupting the continuity of care for those employees and their families; and

WHEREAS, Job preservation is a high priority for the State of Illinois; because OSF HealthPlans is headquartered in downstate Illinois, the enrollment of State employees with OSF HealthPlans provides jobs to downstate Illinois residents; any movement of State employees to other managed care plans headquartered elsewhere would have the effect of moving jobs elsewhere; and

WHEREAS, All of the consequences of any action taken by the Department of Central Management Services should be fully considered in determining whether that action is in the best interests of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Central Management Services to give due consideration to the needs of State employees, retirees, and dependents in determining whether to keep OSF HealthPlans as a managed care plan option; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to Michael M. Rumman, the Director of Central Management Services.