05-R 185

2005 -- H 6196

Enacted 04/13/05

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

MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO REQUIRE THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

OFFICE TO INCLUDE THE ROLE OF THE VETERANS' HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE

DISCUSSION ON "CITIZENS HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP"

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Corvese, Flaherty, Crowley, and Gallison

Date Introduced: March 09, 2005

     WHEREAS, Those who bear the burdens of our national defense make extraordinary

sacrifices and contributions on behalf of the people of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The citizens of our grateful nation recognize a moral obligation to provide,

in return, special benefits to veterans; and

     WHEREAS, Our Constitution vests in the federal government the responsibility for the

common defense; and

     WHEREAS, The costs of veterans' programs are a continuing cost of war and our

national defense and are therefore the obligation of the federal government; and

     WHEREAS, States are incurring costs for the medical treatment of veterans under the

Medicaid program, as demonstrated by a September 2004 audit report by the State of Missouri

showing that approximately 44 % of the veterans of the State of Missouri's Medicaid roles were

potentially eligible to receive medical services through the United States Department of Veterans

Affairs (VA); and

     WHEREAS, Cost comparison studies have shown that the federal government can

provide medical care to veterans through VA at substantially lower costs to taxpayers than

through government-funded private sector treatment programs such as Medicaid and Medicare;

and

     WHEREAS, Treatment of veterans in a system designed to most efficiently meet their

special needs could allow states to expend their scarce resources more effectively and on

programs more appropriately within the scope of their responsibilities; and

     WHEREAS, During the 108th Congress, legislation was passed to create a national debate

about the health care system and ways it could be changed to better serve all Americans; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations respectfully request that Congress require the Government Accountability

Office to include the role of the veterans health care system, the nation's largest integrated health

care network with some 7 million enrollees in the discussion on "Citizens Health Care Working

Group", which is charged with publishing a guide on how health care dollars are spent and make

recommendations to Congress and the President; 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 Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and

the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.

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LC02774

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