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Bill 3724

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      3724
Type of Legislation:              Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                 House
Introduced Date:                  19990311
Primary Sponsor:                  Inabinett
All Sponsors:                     Inabinett, Allen, Bailey, Breeland, 
                                  J. Brown, T. Brown, Canty, Clyburn, Govan, 
                                  Hayes, J. Hines, Jennings, Lloyd, Maddox, 
                                  Moody-Lawrence, Pinckney, Rodgers and Sharpe
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\pt\1317sd99.doc
Residing Body:                    House
Current Committee:                Invitations and Memorial Resolutions 
                                  Committee 24 HIMR
Subject:                          Medicare Health Insurance Program, 
                                  Insurance, Medical and health; Resolutions


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
House   19990311  Introduced, referred to Committee      24 HIMR


                             Versions of This Bill

TO EXPRESS THE SUPPORT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR MEDICARE, WHICH IS OUR NATION'S MOST SUCCESSFUL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, AND TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO SUPPORT A PROPOSAL TO DESIGNATE A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET SURPLUS TO MEDICARE IN ORDER TO ASSURE ITS SOLVENCY AND TO TAKE OTHER ACTIONS WHICH WILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL AND LONG-TERM CARE BENEFITS TO OUR NATION'S SENIOR CITIZENS.

Whereas, Medicare is the nation's most successful health insurance program providing first rate health care coverage for older and disabled persons, and helping to reduce the level of poverty for such persons; and

Whereas, over the years Medicare has successfully held the costs of health care to the same, or even lower, cost levels for the same services as the private market; and

Whereas, in 1998, the traditional, fee-for-service Medicare program held cost increases to only 1.5% and outperformed the private market in regard to cost controls and efficiency; and

Whereas, the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare was authorized by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to "review and analyze the long-term financial condition of the Medicare program"; and

Whereas, the commission has spent little time or effort on such an analysis and has, instead, concentrated on radical changes in the Medicare program without a showing that such changes will improve the long-term financial condition of the program; and

Whereas, the commission is considering in its "premium support" model a rise in the age of eligibility for Medicare services, an end to the guarantees of specific and quantifiable health services, a transformation of Medicare from a defined benefit program into a voucher program, and an inevitable increase in out-of-pocket costs to beneficiaries; and

Whereas, the commission, in coming to these changes, did not seek the guidance and advice of America's seniors, persons with disabilities, families, community organizations, and other affected groups by holding more than a single commission field hearing. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina urge the United States Congress to do the following:

(1) support the proposal of the President to dedicate fifteen percent of the federal budget surplus to Medicare in order to assure solvency of Medicare until, at least, the year 2020;

(2) reject any proposals of the commission or proposals supported by members of Congress designed to destroy the guarantee and promise of the Medicare program as an efficient and comprehensive defined medical benefit program;

(3) address the pressing need of Medicare beneficiaries for an adequate pharmaceutical benefit as well as wider coverage for home and community-based long-term care and for rehabilitative services;

(4) act on the need for more efficiencies in the Medicare program including other long-term care options such as enhanced access to home health services, hospice treatment, adult day care, and introducing a competitive bidding system to the delivery of some health and health-related equipment services;

(5) pass the President's new long-term care initiative targeted to families providing care to chronically impaired seniors and younger persons through the Older Americans Act;

(6) carefully examine the need for additional revenues to the Medicare Program while assuring that such revenues meet tests of equity and progressivity; and

(7) achieve a national health system based on a single-payer model providing comprehensive health care to all as a matter of right.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.

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