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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 131
BY SENATOR NEVERS
MEDICAID. Establishes a study commission to recommend options for Louisiana relative
to the providing and funding of health care insurance and health care services for the
uninsured residents of the state.
A RESOLUTION1
To establish the Louisiana Health Care Independence Commission for the purpose of2
studying all available means and funding to provide health care insurance and health3
care services for uninsured residents of the state of Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, according to the 2011 Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, there were5
approximately 655,000 uninsured individuals in Louisiana with the vast majority, 633,000,6
of those being adults; and 7
WHEREAS, according to the 2011 Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, at least8
290,000 childless adults and parents of Medicaid eligible children between the ages of 199
and 64 live below 138% of federal poverty level; and10
WHEREAS, the federally facilitated marketplace is a federally created exchange11
wherein private insurance companies will compete to market health insurance plans to12
qualified citizens; and13
WHEREAS, the federally facilitated marketplace will begin open enrollment on14
October 1, 2013, providing cost-sharing subsidies for certain qualified individuals; and15
WHEREAS, to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents it is essential16
that the Legislature of Louisiana gather and study accurate and timely information in order17
to determine the appropriate health and funding plan or plans, and select optimum means and18 SR NO. 131
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procedures by which Louisiana may provide health insurance and health care services to the1
greatest number of its uninsured residents in the most economic and efficient manner2
utilizing any and all available funding.3
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby4
establish the Louisiana Health Care Independence Commission for the purpose of studying5
and making recommendations to the Legislature of Louisiana for the optimum means and6
procedures by which to provide health care services to Louisiana's uninsured residents7
utilizing any and all funding that is available.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence9
Commission shall be composed of sixteen members as follows:10
(1)One at-large member appointed by the governor. 11
(2)The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or the secretary's12
designee.13
(3)The Medicaid Director for the Department of Health and Hospitals. 14
(4)The commissioner of the Department of Insurance or the commissioner's15
designee.16
(5)The chair of the Louisiana House of Representatives Health and Welfare17
Committee or the chair's designee.18
(6)The chair of the Louisiana Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or the19
chair's designee.20
(7)The speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, or his designee.21
(8)The president of the Louisiana Senate, or his designee.22
(9)The LSU System executive vice president for Health Care and Medical23
Education Redesign, or his designee.24
(10)A representative from the faculty of the Tulane University School of Public25
Health and Tropical Medicine.26
(11)A representative of the Louisiana Hospital Association.27
(12)A representative of the Louisiana Rural Hospital Association.28
(13)A representative of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.29
(14)A representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.30 SR NO. 131
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(15)A representative of the American Association of Retired Persons.1
(16)A representative of the Public Affairs Research Council.2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in making appointments to the commission, the3
appointing authorities shall seek to provide diversity in the commission's membership,4
including diversity of geography, race, and gender.5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence6
Commission shall hold its first meeting as soon as practicable but in no event later than7
thirty days after adjournment sine die of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature on the8
call of the president of the Louisiana Senate and that at such organizational meeting the9
commission shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and such other officers as it finds necessary and10
adopt rules for its procedure.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence12
Commission shall meet upon the call of the chair as often as deemed necessary to carry out13
its duties, but not less than once a month; that a majority of the commission shall constitute14
a quorum for the transaction of business; that members shall serve without compensation,15
but may receive such per diem or reimbursement for travel and expenses as may be provided16
by their board, agency or appointing authority; and that the Louisiana Legislature shall17
provide primary administrative and staff support to the commission.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a written report19
containing the commission's findings and proposed recommendations regarding optimum20
means by which to provide health insurance and health care services to the maximum21
number of Louisiana citizens on or before September 1, 2013. The commission shall submit22
its report to the presiding officers of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the23
Louisiana Senate, and may supplement such report until its termination. 24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall terminate and all authority25
for its existence shall end on December 31, 2013.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted27
to the president of the Louisiana Senate, the speaker of the Louisiana House of28
Representatives, and to the medicaid director of the Department of Health and Hospitals.29 SR NO. 131
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Julie J. Baxter.
DIGEST
Nevers SR No. 131
Establishes the Louisiana Health Care Independence Commission to study optimum means
and procedures by which Louisiana may provide health insurance and health care services
to uninsured residents utilizing any and all available funding, provides for membership and
staffing of the commission, and requires a report to the presiding officers of the Louisiana
Legislature on or before September 1, 2013.