HR0509

LRB095 12408 KBJ 37478 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, A large proportion of diseases and disorders are 
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preventable;  modified health risk factors are precursors to a 
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large number of diseases and disorders and to premature death; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Modifiable health risks can be improved through 
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health promotion and disease prevention programs; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Health promotion and disease prevention programs 
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can save the State money in health care expenditures and 
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produce a positive return on investment; and

 
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    WHEREAS, According to a 2004 study, tobacco was the leading 
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cause of actual death in the United States; tobacco use was 
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responsible for 435,000 deaths, which was over 18% of total 
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deaths in the United States; and

 
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    WHEREAS, An analysis of 22 peer-reviewed studies showed 
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that for every dollar invested in health promotion, there was 
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an average savings of $5.81; there was also an average 
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reduction of health care costs of 26%; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Based on 2001 data, if Illinois reduced smoking in 
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the Medicaid population by 10%, the savings would be 16 million 
 


 






HR0509
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LRB095 12408 KBJ 37478 r




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dollars;  a 25% reduction would result in a savings of 40 
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million; a 50% reduction would save Medicaid 81 million 
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dollars; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Creating incentives for Medicaid recipients to 
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quit smoking will save money for the State and improve the 
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quality of life of former smokers; the State does not have to 
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create the program from scratch, but can enter into an 
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agreement with experts in the health and wellness field to 
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maximize immediate savings; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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urge the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create 
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a pilot incentive-based smoking cessation program for Medicaid 
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recipients; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the program shall be operational 6 months 
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after the date of adoption of this resolution; and be it 
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further
 

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    RESOLVED, That the Department may enter into an agreement 
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with a third party to create or run the program.