H*4137 Concurrent Resolution, By Edge and H. Brown
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REVISE
 PROVISIONS OF THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997 RELATED TO AN INTERIM PAYMENT
 SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES IN
 RULES FOR MEDICARE HOME HEALTH CARE BENEFICIARIES TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION.

   05/20/99  House  Introduced HJ-8
   05/20/99  House  Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
                     Resolutions HJ-8
   06/02/99  House  Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
                     Memorial Resolutions HJ-60
   06/03/99  House  Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-56
   06/22/99  Senate Introduced SJ-6
   06/22/99  Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-6
   06/22/99  Senate Recalled from Committee on Medical Affairs SJ-6
   06/22/99  Senate Adopted, returned to House with concurrence SJ-6

June 2, 1999

H. 4137

S. Printed 6/2/99--H.

Read the first time May 20, 1999.

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 4137), memorializing the United States Congress to revise provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.

MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REVISE PROVISIONS OF THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997 RELATED TO AN INTERIM PAYMENT SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CERTAIN AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES IN RULES FOR MEDICARE HOME HEALTH CARE BENEFICIARIES TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUATION.

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly is concerned about the health and well-being of our elderly and disabled residents who rely on the Medicare program to meet the cost of their health care needs; and

Whereas, South Carolina, like most other states, anticipates an increasing population of seniors, disabled persons, and others requiring health care services; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly recognizes that our residents should have access to high quality, cost effective home health care services through the Medicare program wherever feasible and justified; and

Whereas, the federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 included significant Medicare payment reforms affecting coverage in payment of home health services which create significant risks that access to Medicare home health services will be diminished or eliminated because these payment reforms base payment rates on 1994 levels of care, fail to recognize changes in health care needs and services since 1994, and fail to adequately account for the wide variation in care needs of individual patients; and

Whereas, Medicare beneficiaries who need care the most and who are at the greatest risk for cutbacks are being denied access to care as the result of these payment reforms which discourage home health care agencies caring for patients with high-care needs that have high costs; and

Whereas, the cutback of home health services will lead to increased use of more costly settings like emergency rooms, hospitals, and nursing homes; and

Whereas, home health agencies are an important source of employment in South Carolina communities, and cuts required under the new Medicare payment system will lead to the loss of employment by our citizens; and

Whereas, Medicare home health cuts will likely shift service needs and costs to state Medicaid programs, especially nursing home care, resulting in an unfunded mandate to South Carolina; and

Whereas, the portion of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 calling for an Interim Payment System was based on financial projections which overestimated the continued growth of home health care; and

Whereas, the Interim Payment System provisions are not needed to slow the growth of home health care; and

Whereas, Congress and the Administration should work jointly to develop the necessary amendments to the Interim Payment System so that services to Medicare home health care beneficiaries are not disrupted, interrupted, or eliminated. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That, by this resolution, the South Carolina General Assembly memorializes the United States Congress to revise provisions of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 relating to the Interim Payment System and to provide for the development of certain amendments or changes in rules for Medicare home health care beneficiaries to improve their situation.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, and Donna Shalala, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.