Full Text of HJR0005 94th General Assembly
HJ0005 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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LRB094 04237 HSS 34261 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The percentage of Illinoisans without health care | 3 |
| coverage has generally been rising for the last 15 years, | 4 |
| growing from 9.7% in 1987 to 14.1% in 2002 and nationally the | 5 |
| proportion of the population that is uninsured grew by 17.8% | 6 |
| between 1987 and 2002, but it grew by 45.5% in Illinois; and
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| WHEREAS, Residents of rural areas face a difficult time in | 8 |
| accessing health care due to geographic isolation, lack of | 9 |
| transportation, economic disparity, and seasonal challenges | 10 |
| which create obstacles for rural health care consumers; and
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| WHEREAS, More than 20% of the U.S. population, over 65 | 12 |
| million people, live in rural areas, and yet, only 9% of | 13 |
| physicians practice in rural areas; and
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| WHEREAS, Rural health care providers face financial | 15 |
| barriers, including lower wages and reimbursement rates | 16 |
| compared to urban counterparts, lower patient volumes, and | 17 |
| fewer economies of scale; and
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| WHEREAS, The elderly are disproportionately represented in | 19 |
| rural areas, with approximately 18.4% of all rural residents | 20 |
| being elderly, and Medicare is the dominant source of health | 21 |
| care reimbursements for rural hospitals, accounting for | 22 |
| approximately 47% of patient care in rural areas, compared to | 23 |
| 36% in urban areas; and
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| WHEREAS, In rural areas persons with disabilities and | 25 |
| others who need specialized care must overcome the added | 26 |
| difficulties of lack of public transportation, long distance to | 27 |
| health care providers, and limited support services; | 28 |
| therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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LRB094 04237 HSS 34261 r |
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| NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | 2 |
| SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Joint Task Force on Rural | 3 |
| Health is hereby created comprised of 8 members as follows: 2 | 4 |
| members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President, 2 | 5 |
| members of the Senate appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, | 6 |
| 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the | 7 |
| Speaker of the House and 2 members of the House of | 8 |
| Representatives appointed by the House Minority Leader, with | 9 |
| one member appointed by the Senate President serving as | 10 |
| co-chairperson and one member appointed by the Speaker of the | 11 |
| House serving as co-chairperson; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall meet to study issues of | 13 |
| importance for improving access to quality, affordable health | 14 |
| care for all residents of Illinois, particularly those that | 15 |
| reside in a rural setting; and be it further | 16 |
| RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study issues related to | 17 |
| the best practices which ensure that an adequate and | 18 |
| well-trained workforce is available to deliver health care | 19 |
| services to Illinois residents living in rural communities; and | 20 |
| be it further | 21 |
| RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall present its findings | 22 |
| and recommendations on how best to improve health care in rural | 23 |
| communities to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of | 24 |
| the House no later than January 1, 2006.
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