MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gollott, Thames, King, Carmichael, Dearing, Tollison, Butler, Horhn, Morgan, Posey, Cuevas, Lee (47th), Dawkins, Albritton, Walley, Turner, Jackson (11th), Hyde-Smith, Walls, Frazier, Jordan, Browning, Thomas, Wilemon, Jackson (32nd), Simmons
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION FINDING THAT IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO EXTEND COVERAGE OF MEDICAID RECIPIENTS IN THE POVERTY LEVEL AGED AND DISABLED (PLADs) CATEGORY; IF SUCH RECIPIENTS HAVE NOT OBTAINED COVERAGE BY THE SEPTEMBER 15 DEADLINE, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT THE GOVERNOR CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO PROVIDE CONTINUED COVERAGE; TO CREATE A JOINT SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND MEANS TO MAINTAIN AND MAXIMIZE CONTINUED COVERAGE OF OUR MOST MEDICALLY VULNERABLE CITIZENS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, an ill-timed and hasty response to a federal law requiring changes in health care coverage by 2006 will prematurely cut 65,000 Mississippians from Medicaid health care; and
WHEREAS, these 65,000 Mississippians are our poor, elderly, disabled and most medically vulnerable citizens; and
WHEREAS, this ill-timed rush to revise coverage does not provide an adequate transition in order to give our vulnerable citizens time to obtain alternative medical care coverage; and
WHEREAS, the extension of Medicaid health care coverage to the poverty level aged and disabled (PLADs) category is literally a life or death matter to some of these medically vulnerable citizens; and
WHEREAS, in response to the impending crisis, Governor Haley Barbour implemented a Medicaid transition plan and extended coverage until September 15, 2004; and
WHEREAS, in addition to other measures, Governor Haley Barbour obtained a federal commitment which allows PLADs beneficiaries an exclusive advance enrollment opportunity for prescription drug cards and patient assistance programs:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That:
(1) We do hereby find that it is in the public interest that coverage of our Medicaid recipients in the poverty level aged and disabled (PLADs) category continue, and if most of these recipients do not obtain coverage by the September 15 deadline, then it is in the public interest that the Governor call a special session to provide continued coverage and we urge him to do so.
(2) There is hereby created a joint select study committee of the Senate and House of Representatives which shall study eligibility requirements and ways to maintain and maximize continued coverage of our most medically vulnerable citizens and the means to fund the continuation of such coverage. The joint select committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature on or before January 4, 2005; and upon the presentation of such report the joint committee shall be dissolved.
(3) The committee shall consist of the Chairman of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee and the Chairman of the House Public Health and Human Services Committee, who shall serve as co-chairmen of the committee; Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Chairman of the House Medicaid Committee, six (6) members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, and six (6) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House. Appointments shall be made within fifteen (15) days after the adoption of this resolution by the Legislature; and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, the committee shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a secretary who shall be responsible for keeping all records of the committee. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the joint committee from each house shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the date on which a meeting is to be held.
(4) Members of the committee shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same manner as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem or expense for attending meetings of the committee will be paid while the Legislature is in session. No committee member, except the co-chairmen, may incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the committee, which action shall be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting.
(5) The committee shall utilize clerical and legal staff already employed by the Legislature, and any other staff assistance made available to it. To effectuate the purpose of this resolution, each department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state shall, at the request of a co-chairman of the committee, provide to the committee such facilities, assistance and accurate data as will enable the committee properly to carry out its task.