GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 429

–––––––––––––––––––- 
Sponsors: Representatives Blue; Alexander, Alphin, Arnold, Baddour, Barbee, Barnhill, Black, Bowen, Bowie, Bowman, Braswell, D. Brown, Brubaker, Church, Cole, Colton, Crawford, Culp, Cummings, Cunningham, Decker, DeVane, Diamont, Dickson, Dockham, Edwards, Esposito, Fitch, Gamble, Gardner, Gottovi, Green, Griffin, Hackney, Hensley, Hightower, Hill, Holt, Howard, Judy Hunt, H. Hunter, Ives, James, Jeffus, Jenkins, Joye, Justus, Kuczmarski, Lee, Luebke, Lutz, Mavretic, McAllister, McCrary, McLaughlin, McLawhorn, Mercer, Michaux, B. Miller, G. Miller, Miner, Mitchell, Moore, Morgan, Nesbitt, Nye, Oldham, C. Preston, J. Preston, Ramsey, Redwine, Richardson, Robinson, Rogers, Smith, Spears, Stamey, Stewart, Sutton, R. Thompson, Wainwright, Weatherly, Wilkins, Wilmoth, P. Wilson, Wood, and Wright.

–––––––––––––––––––- 
Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

–––––––––––––––––––- 

March 15, 1993

A JOINT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE NORTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO INTERCEDE WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH WHEN NECESSARY AND TO PROPOSE TO CONGRESS CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THOSE PARTS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT THAT AFFECT THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, THE FEDERAL TAX CODE, AND OTHER RELEVANT ACTS TO PERMIT THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM PROGRAM.
Whereas, in 1993 more than 2,000,000 North Carolinians will be either uninsured or underinsured, putting them "at risk”of being unable to afford needed health services; and 
Whereas, in 1992 North Carolina's citizens spent at least $3.7 billion on care of the medically indigent and the financing mechanism for this huge burden is grossly inequitable; and 
Whereas, North Carolina employers who provide health care coverage for their employees, the employees themselves, and other insured or self-paying patients are paying on average a 27% overcharge to compensate for patients who cannot pay or who underpay, and this cost shift is projected to double by 1996; and
Whereas, the North Carolina General Assembly wants to expand access to health care to all North Carolinians and contain the costs of North Carolina's health care programs; and 
Whereas, North Carolina wants to implement common forms and administrative procedures and establish a uniform benefit standard on which all North Carolinians can depend and that would apply both to commercial and self-funded plans; and 
Whereas, the 1993 North Carolina General Assembly will adopt a plan for health care reform for the State of North Carolina; and
Whereas, the implementation of the North Carolina State plan will depend upon removal of certain federal legislative and executive branch constraints;
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
Section 1.  The North Carolina General Assembly urges the North Carolina delegation to the 103rd United States Congress to help the North Carolina General Assembly implement health care reform by:
(1)	Proposing amendments to the Social Security Act that would permit the State of North Carolina to eliminate categorical restrictions, increase income limits, and share costs in amount, scope, and duration of services and comparability requirements in the Medicaid program;
(2)	Proposing amendments to the Social Security Act that would authorize the State of North Carolina to replace the mandatory and optional service requirements in the Medicaid program with a uniform standard benefit established by the General Assembly of North Carolina to which North Carolinians would have access;
(3)	Proposing amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to allow the State of North Carolina to regulate self-funded health insurance plans; and
(4)	Proposing amendments to any other act or regulation that constrains or impedes implementation of North Carolina's health care reform.
Sec. 2.  The North Carolina General Assembly also urges the North Carolina delegation to the 103rd United States Congress to help the State to intercede with the President of the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services, and any other federal agency that presents regulatory barriers to implementation of a North Carolina legislative plan for health care reform.
Sec. 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit certified copies of this resolution upon ratification to the members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation, the President of the United States, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Sec. 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.