ENROLLED HOUSE
CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 1050	By:	Benge of the House

			   and

		Coffee of the Senate

A Concurrent Resolution memorializing Congress to provide health care programs to elderly, uninsured and low-income individuals by implementing block grants to the states; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma has worked diligently and effectively in order to make health care available to its neediest citizens, including uninsured, low-income, and elderly individuals; and

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma has demonstrated commitment to its elderly through the creation of the ADvantage Program, which allows certain Medicaid-eligible individuals to stay at home instead of utilizing institutional care; and

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma has created an extremely successful public/private partnership in order to meet the needs of the uninsured; and

WHEREAS, this partnership, called “Insure Oklahoma”, currently enrolls over 30,000 low-income working adults and college students; and  

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma serves certain low-income individuals through the state’s “SoonerCare” program; and

WHEREAS, in 2009, over 800,000 individuals were served through this program; and

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma will face future challenges relating to the rising costs of health care and an increase in its aging population; and

WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma should be allowed to create new ways in the future to provide health care solutions for its citizens; and

WHEREAS, block grant experiences have historically revealed individual states to be sophisticated and efficient when given discretion over social programs; and

WHEREAS, block grants can reduce state and local compliance costs, eliminate waste, reduce federal administrative costs, and make state and local officials directly accountable to their constituents; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable for the State of Oklahoma to assume the responsibility for health care programs for uninsured, low-income, and elderly individuals through the implementation of block grants.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN:

THAT the Oklahoma State Legislature memorializes the Congress of the United States to provide health care programs for the uninsured, low-income, and elderly individuals by implementing block grants to the states.

THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to each member of the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation.

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 25th day of February, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Adopted by the Senate the 26th day of May, 2010.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate