House Concurrent Resolution 14 PAG LIN 1 1 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY HOGG, DANDEKAR, RASMUSSEN, MURPHY, WENDT, HUNTER, 1 3 WHITEAD, CONNORS, FALLON, OLDSON, FREVERT, MERTZ, 1 4 MILLER, KUHN, WILDERDYKE, STRUYK, WINCKLER, LENSING, 1 5 HEDDENS, SCHICKEL, WHITAKER, D. OLSON, SMITH, SWAIM, 1 6 GASKILL, FOEGE, MASCHER, and MYERS 1 7 A Concurrent Resolution relating to federal Medicare 1 8 program reimbursement. 1 9 WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Medicare and 1 10 Medicaid Services of the United States Department of 1 11 Health and Human Services, the federal Medicare 1 12 program reimbursement to Iowa hospitals was the lowest 1 13 of all states in 2001 with an average per enrollee 1 14 reimbursement amount of $3,414, which was 57 percent 1 15 of the national average of $5,994; and 1 16 WHEREAS, Louisiana received the highest average per 1 17 enrollee reimbursement amount under the federal 1 18 Medicare program in 2001 of $8,099, which was 137 1 19 percent higher than Iowa's average per enrollee 1 20 reimbursement amount; and 1 21 WHEREAS, the average per enrollee reimbursement 1 22 amount under the federal Medicare program among the 1 23 six states that border Iowa was $5,116 in 2001, which 1 24 was 50 percent higher than Iowa's average 1 25 reimbursement amount; and 1 26 WHEREAS, the quality of care provided by Iowa's 1 27 hospitals is ranked among the best in the nation; and 1 28 WHEREAS, health facilities are highly dependent 1 29 upon the reimbursement levels established by the 1 30 centers for Medicare and Medicaid of the United States 2 1 Department of Health and Human Services; and 2 2 WHEREAS, the low reimbursement provided under the 2 3 federal Medicare program to Iowa hospitals has a 2 4 widespread effect on the entire economy of Iowa and 2 5 creates a competitive disadvantage for Iowa especially 2 6 compared with bordering states; and 2 7 WHEREAS, Iowa has a respected and influential 2 8 Congressional delegation including Senator Charles 2 9 Grassley, who serves as chairman of the United States 2 10 Senate Finance Committee, and Representative Jim 2 11 Nussle, who serves as chairman of the United States 2 12 House Budget Committee; NOW THEREFORE, 2 13 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE 2 14 SENATE CONCURRING, That the General Assembly 2 15 encourages Iowa's congressional delegation to work 2 16 together to substantially increase the federal 2 17 Medicare reimbursement rate to Iowa health care 2 18 providers to ensure that the reimbursement rate is at 2 19 least the same as the average reimbursement rate to 2 20 the six states that surround Iowa; and 2 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this 2 22 Resolution be sent by the Chief Clerk of the House of 2 23 Representatives to the President of the United States, 2 24 the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker 2 25 of the United States House of Representatives, and to 2 26 all members of Iowa's congressional delegation. 2 27 LSB 2218HH 80 2 28 pf/sh/8