HR1074 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1074 LRB096 21772 GRL 39636 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed legislation into law to provide for federal reform of health care, including the expansion of eligibility under the Medicaid program; and

WHEREAS, The Medicaid program is a federal and state-funded program providing health care to individuals and families in need of health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, Over 2.8 million residents of Illinois already rely on Medicaid and Medicaid-funded programs for health care; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Healthcare and Family Services' fiscal year 2011 budget request for means-tested health care programs exceeds $14 billion; and

WHEREAS, In the face of the current fiscal crises, the members of the Illinois General Assembly should be fully aware of the cost of all expansions of the Medicaid program and of any other reforms in the federal health care provisions that may impact the State's fiscal condition; and

WHEREAS, During an interview conducted by the Illinois Radio Network on March 22, 2010, the Governor of the State of Illinois acknowledged that he does not yet know what the fiscal impact of the federal health care reforms will be in Illinois and that the State has not made a cost estimate; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we request that the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability examine the provisions of the federal health care reform law to determine the fiscal impact of the provisions on the budget of the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the findings of the Commission's examination be presented to the members of the General Assembly by July 1, 2010, to ensure that members of the General Assembly are informed about the fiscal impact of the federal health care reforms by the beginning of fiscal year 2011.