Bill Text: PA HR879 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of the Department of Public Welfare's proposal to begin collecting copayments.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 67-29)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-15 - Laid on the table [HR879 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR879-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 4107
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 879 Session of2012
INTRODUCED BY DiGIROLAMO, NEILSON, K. BOYLE, R. BROWN, BROWNLEE, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DAVIS, DEAN, DELISSIO, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DERMODY, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, D. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FARRY, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, GEORGE, GERBER, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, HANNA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HELM, HESS, HORNAMAN, JAMES, W. KELLER, KIRKLAND, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MANN, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, MURPHY, MUSTIO, MYERS, NEUMAN, O'NEILL, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PETRARCA, RAVENSTAHL, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, CULVER, SCHMOTZER, K. SMITH, STABACK, STEPHENS, STURLA, VITALI, WATSON, WHEATLEY, YOUNGBLOOD AND MAHER, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study of the Department of Public Welfare's
proposal to begin collecting copayments.
WHEREAS, The Department of Public Welfare has proposed via an
August 11, 2012, notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and a
Medical Assistance Bulletin to begin collecting copayments for
services provided to children who have disabilities and who have
family income greater than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
Guidelines; and
WHEREAS, The proposal is scheduled to be fully implemented by
November 1, 2012; and
WHEREAS, The department had the authority under Act 22 of
2011 to publish the copayments in an effort to address budget
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limitations; and
WHEREAS, The authority did not extend to establishing
procedures and protocols for collecting the copayments; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Government requires the department to
calculate the ongoing amount of copayments for each family in
real time, ensuring this burden is not placed on families; and
WHEREAS, The department's own bulletin dated September 20,
2012, admits that they are in no position to comply with this
requirement; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives believe
significant savings to the Commonwealth can be realized and
disruption of services to children with disabilities can be
curtailed if copayment caps are accurately calculated, tracking
of copayments is done in a timely fashion, prompt reconciliation
of overpayments and distribution of refunds is achieved and
sufficient enforcement of other payment alternatives provided
under Act 62 of 2008 is provided; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of
the proposal to determine its impact on the families affected;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study seek to learn if there are better
implementation strategies to assure that families adequately
support their children who have disabilities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study seek to learn whether the copayments
will be implemented across this Commonwealth in a uniform and
equitable fashion that complies with Federal and State medical
assistance requirements; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study seek to learn what the real health
services, administrative and operational costs to the medical
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assistance funded pediatric health care and child-adolescent
behavioral health care delivery system will be for both the fee-
for-service and HealthChoices for service providers, as well as
for counties and managed care organizations; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the study seek to learn what the potential and
real costs of special education services may be for students for
whom families demand that behavioral health and health care
services be added to the student's individual education plan in
lieu of medical assistance funded services; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
issue a report to the General Assembly no later than November 1,
2013; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report be submitted to the chairman and
minority chairman of the Health Committee of the House of
Representatives, the Human Services Committee of the House of
Representatives and the Appropriations Committee of the House of
Representatives; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Welfare be strongly
urged to refrain from implementing the policy until after the
study is complete.
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