H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS TO TAKE MEASURES TO FURTHER REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE BALANCED BUDGET ACT OF 1997
WHEREAS, Implementation of the federal balanced budget act of 1997 has resulted in significantly greater reductions in Medicare than projected causing a number of unintended and negative consequences for providers and beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, The Congressional Budget Office reported in January 2000 that Medicare payments would be $62 billion dollars lower over the next five years than earlier estimates; and
WHEREAS, Rhode Island hospitals are estimated to suffer a collective $375 million dollar loss over a five year period as a result of the balanced budget act of 1997; and
WHEREAS, The balanced budget act of 1997 has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of home health care services being provided to Rhode Island beneficiaries; and
WHEREAS, Access to skilled nursing home care for frail seriously ill elders and persons with disabilities with high acuity levels is being jeopardized due to the changes in reimbursement in the balanced budget act of 1997; and
WHEREAS, The balanced budget act of 1997 will cost the Rhode Island Health Care industry roughly $500 million dollars in projected federal Medicare revenues over the next five years; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby requests that the 106th Congress of the United States of America take measures to further reduce the adverse effects of the balanced budget act of 1997, as was started to be addressed by the balanced budget refinement act of 1999; and be it
RESOLVED, That the higher than expected federal surplus be used to address the negative consequences and excessive payment reductions resulting from the balanced budget act of 1997; 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 members of the Rhode Island delegation to the Congress of the United States.