07-R373

2007 -- S 0945

Enacted 06/22/07

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE RHODE ISLAND EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES TO MAKE THE QUALIFICATION OF APPLICANTS FOR MEDICAID AND RITE CARE A TOP PRIORITY AND TO EXPEDITIOUSLY REMEDY STATE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ELIGIBLE PERSONS LOSING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE

Introduced By: Senators Perry, C Levesque, Sheehan, Miller, and Pichardo

Date Introduced: April 26, 2007

     WHEREAS, More than 3,000 Rhode Islanders have lost Medicaid and RIte Care

coverage in the past two months; and

     WHEREAS, The rapidly growing number of uninsured individuals in our state is

crushing our health care safety net, and has resulted in employee lay-offs and budget deficits at

community health centers and hospitals; and

     WHEREAS, Recent federal eligibility requirements for the Medicaid Program, and state

policies designed to implement these requirements, include securing certain forms of

documentation. Obtaining these documents has presented financial and bureaucratic obstacles to

receiving needed health care for potentially thousands of Rhode Island's low-wage families; and

     WHEREAS, The lack of coordination and electronic transfer of vital records between the

RI Department of Health and the RI Department of Human Services has contributed to this

financial and bureaucratic burden; and

     WHEREAS, The reauthorization of thousands of current Medicaid and RIte Care covered

individuals should not begin until after an effective process is in place to electronically transfer

vital records between these two state departments; and

     WHEREAS, Expediting whatever system changes that are necessary to address the

documentation issues that have resulted in eligible persons losing Medicaid coverage is of major

concern to the General Assembly; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby requests the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to make the

qualification of applicants for Medicare and RIte Care a top priority, and to expeditiously remedy

state systems and policies that are responsible for eligible persons losing their health insurance;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health

and Human Services, the Director of the Department of Health, and the Director of the

Department of Human Services.

=======

LC02770

=======