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2013 -- S 1044 | |
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LC02959 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN | |
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SERVICES AND THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTH EXCHANGE TO PROVIDE A REPORT | |
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TO THE SENATE ON THE NEWLY-ENROLLED ADULTS BETWEEN 133 PERCENT AND | |
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175 PERCENT FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL TO THE MARKETPLACE | |
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Introduced By: Senators Miller, Satchell, Cool Rumsey, Goldin, and Nesselbush | |
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Date Introduced: July 02, 2013 | |
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Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
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WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island is fully committed to the health and welfare of its |
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citizens by providing access to quality, affordable health insurance through the implementation of |
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the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) and implementation of the Rhode Island Health Exchange |
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(“The Marketplace”); and |
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WHEREAS, The Ocean State is a leader in its design of the Health Exchange and Unified |
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Health Infrastructure Project (UHIP), creating a singular platform to support both new and |
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existing health insurance initiatives under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), bolster existing human |
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services programs, and provide hosting services for the state’s health benefits exchange “The |
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Marketplace” and eligibility systems; and |
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WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Fiscal Year 2014 Budget eliminated RIte Care premiums |
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to enhance the affordability of overall family coverage, while expanding Medicaid coverage to |
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residents that qualify with incomes up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who are |
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not currently eligible for Medicaid coverage; and |
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WHEREAS, There are discrepancies between the Medicaid definition of the |
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“affordability standard” for health insurance premium costs at 5 percent of gross income and the |
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Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) definition of 9.5 percent; and |
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WHEREAS, Advocates and policymakers have expressed concern with the FY 2014 |
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budget shift of 6,500 adults between 133 percent to 175 percent FPL from Medicaid coverage to |
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the Exchange, that offer subsidy amounts that are currently indeterminable, for those that qualify |
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to pay for premium expenses, and out-of-pocket costs; now, therefore be it |
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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respectfully requests the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), Office of |
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Medicaid and Office of the Health Exchange to submit a report to the Senate Committee on |
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Health and Human Services on or before April 15, 2014, with the following information for |
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newly-enrolled adults between 133 percent to 175 percent FPL through the health exchange: (i) |
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The take-up rates for coverage, as compared with the previous year’s enrollments for Medicaid |
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coverage; (ii) The average subsidy amounts per enrollee; (iii) The average out-of-pocket expenses |
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in the first quarter and estimates per annum; (iv) Any other relevant information to fully examine |
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the transition; and (v) Recommendations for improvements and/or modifications to the current |
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policy; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to send |
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a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. |
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LC02959 | |
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