House Resolution 6 - Introduced PAG LIN H.R. ________ S.R. ________ 1 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 1 2 BY WHITEAD, SMITH, WHITAKER, BUKTA, LYKAM, 1 3 FORD, FREVERT, REICHERT, THEDE, COHOON, 1 4 BERRY, and HEDDENS 1 5 A Resolution urging implementation of disability=friendly 1 6 principles for Iowa's health care coverage system. 1 7 WHEREAS, a higher proportion of working adult 1 8 Iowans with disabilities do not have health care 1 9 coverage as compared with the general population of 1 10 Iowans; and 1 11 WHEREAS, the lack of portability in health 1 12 insurance benefits often results in persons with 1 13 disabilities either being forced to remain in jobs to 1 14 retain health care coverage or to deliberately become 1 15 impoverished to become eligible for publicly funded 1 16 health care coverage; and 1 17 WHEREAS, as the average age of Iowans continues to 1 18 rise and health care coverage requirements become more 1 19 restrictive, many more Iowans are likely to either 1 20 become afflicted with a disability or otherwise 1 21 experience health care coverage problems now 1 22 experienced by persons with disabilities; and 1 23 WHEREAS, as the needs and challenges relating to 1 24 health care coverage have become increasingly 1 25 difficult to address, it is essential to adopt a set 1 26 of principles for the governor, the general assembly, 1 27 other policymakers, and businesses to apply in 1 28 addressing health care coverage needs of persons with 1 29 disabilities and other Iowans; NOW THEREFORE, 1 30 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 2 1 That the governor, the general assembly, other 2 2 policymakers, and businesses are urged to apply all of 2 3 the following principles in addressing the health care 2 4 coverage needs of persons with disabilities and other 2 5 Iowans: 2 6 1. An individual is able to maintain stable health 2 7 care coverage despite changes in employment or 2 8 accumulation of personal assets so that working adults 2 9 with or without disabilities are not dropped from 2 10 coverage due to the extent of a disability or the 2 11 amount of service usage; 2 12 2. Health care coverage is available to 2 13 individuals at an affordable cost by using various 2 14 cost=control strategies which may include pooling to 2 15 share risks and costs over very large groups of 2 16 individuals and the pools include both those who are 2 17 generally healthy and those who have disabilities; 2 18 3. An individual's contributions for the cost of 2 19 health care coverage are based upon both the 2 20 individual's ability to pay and the extent of the 2 21 applicable employer or public contribution to the 2 22 cost; 2 23 4. Health care coverage is made both physically 2 24 and cognitively accessible for all Iowans and the use 2 25 of limitation measures such as exclusions of 2 26 preexisting conditions is curtailed; 2 27 5. The range of available health care coverage is 2 28 made broad enough to cover an appropriate range of 2 29 benefits, including but not limited to medications, 2 30 mental health treatment, preventive services, personal 3 1 health items, and special equipment. Coordination of 3 2 care and benefits among multiple providers is used so 3 3 that the needs of persons with disabilities are not 3 4 met through a system of second=class care; 3 5 6. The eligibility determination requirements used 3 6 for publicly supported health care available to 3 7 persons with disabilities is separated from the 3 8 requirements for other publicly supported benefits 3 9 available to such persons so that persons with 3 10 disabilities are not forced to become impoverished or 3 11 remain in poverty in order to secure health care 3 12 coverage and can instead purchase health care coverage 3 13 based on sliding fee scales or other flexible buy=in 3 14 options; and 3 15 7. The transition between the health care coverage 3 16 for children with disabilities and the coverage for 3 17 adults with disabilities is coordinated in order to 3 18 prevent gaps in care. The transition between the 3 19 coverage available through publicly supported programs 3 20 and private insurance is made seamless so that persons 3 21 with disabilities are able to pursue productive 3 22 employment and build personal assets; and 3 23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of 3 24 Representatives finds that applying these principles 3 25 and providing better health care access for persons 3 26 with disabilities and other Iowans will result in 3 27 prevention of new health problems or secondary 3 28 conditions, reduce adverse medication effects, improve 3 29 preventive services and continuity of care, and 3 30 support greater independence for persons with 4 1 disabilities and other Iowans. 4 2 LSB 1436HH 83 4 3 jp/rj/14