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90_HR0269
LRB9007719KBkb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, More than 300,000 children in Illinois do not
3 have basic health insurance because their parents do not have
4 jobs that include affordable health care benefits, or because
5 they are not currently covered by other private or public
6 assistance programs; and
7 WHEREAS, The problem of uninsured children has been
8 considered by the 88th, 89th, and 90th General Assemblies,
9 but no legislation has yet been enacted into law to expand or
10 extend coverage to needy families; and
11 WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress passed and the President
12 signed into law the "Balanced Budget Act of 1997" (P.L.
13 105-33), which included provisions for funding a new State
14 Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under a new Title
15 XXI of the federal Social Security Act, and $20.3 billion was
16 authorized for this purpose for at least 5 years to provide
17 funds to the several states for the provision of children's
18 health insurance under programs and plans designed and
19 administered by the states; and
20 WHEREAS, The formula for allocating the federal funds for
21 children's health insurance provides approximately $122.6
22 million annually to Illinois, but requires a State match in
23 the approximate amount of $66 million in State funds; and
24 WHEREAS, If Illinois elects to participate under the new
25 State Children's Health Insurance Program, it must obtain
26 federal approval of a plan to qualify for federal financial
27 participation under Title XXI of the Social Security Act; and
28 WHEREAS, The new law authorizes the State to implement
29 various options regarding the type of program, method of
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1 administration, type and scope of benefits, eligibility, cost
2 sharing by participants, and evaluation; and
3 WHEREAS, There is widespread support for Illinois'
4 immediate implementation of a children's health insurance
5 program under the provisions of Title XXI of the Social
6 Security Act; therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 90TH
8 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recommend
9 that the Illinois Department of Human Services and the
10 Illinois Department of Public Aid collaborate in the
11 development of a State plan to implement Title XXI of the
12 federal Social Security Act, and that in so doing the
13 agencies may exercise options that will implement an interim
14 plan that will ensure immediate coverage of additional
15 children from low income families, while working towards a
16 more comprehensive plan that may further expand and extend
17 coverage to the fullest extent possible within available
18 federal funds; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That in the process of developing the State
20 plan, the Secretary of Human Services and the Director of
21 Public Aid shall jointly establish a Children's Health Care
22 Task Force composed of child health experts and advocates and
23 representatives of appropriate State agencies, the General
24 Assembly, health care providers, and insurers; and the task
25 force shall study and propose methods to extend health
26 coverage to uninsured, low income children utilizing the
27 benefits available under Title XXI of the federal Social
28 Security Act; the task force shall advise the department
29 regarding the State plan to implement a State Child Health
30 Insurance Program; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Departments of Human Services
2 and Public Aid seek public review and comment in the
3 development of any interim and final plan that will implement
4 a children's health insurance plan under Title XXI of the
5 Social Security Act; and be it further
6 RESOLVED, That a final plan for implementing children's
7 health insurance under Title XXI of the Social Security Act
8 be submitted to the 90th General Assembly by February 1,
9 1998, together with any necessary recommendations for
10 legislation that will ensure State compliance and
11 implementation by July 1, 1998.