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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 131
BY SENATOR NEVERS
A RESOLUTION
To establish the Louisiana Health Care Independence Commission for the purpose of
studying all available means and funding to provide health care insurance and health
care services for uninsured residents of the state of Louisiana.
WHEREAS, according to the 2011 Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, there were
approximately 655,000 uninsured individuals in Louisiana with the vast majority, 633,000,
of those being adults; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2011 Louisiana Health Insurance Survey, at least
290,000 childless adults and parents of Medicaid eligible children between the ages of 19
and 64 live below 138% of federal poverty level; and
WHEREAS, the federally facilitated marketplace is a federally created exchange
wherein private insurance companies will compete to market health insurance plans to
qualified citizens; and
WHEREAS, the federally facilitated marketplace will begin open enrollment on
October 1, 2013, providing cost-sharing subsidies for certain qualified individuals; and
WHEREAS, to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents it is essential
that the Legislature of Louisiana gather and study accurate and timely information in order
to determine the appropriate health and funding plan or plans, and select optimum means and
procedures by which Louisiana may provide health insurance and health care services to the
greatest number of its uninsured residents in the most economic and efficient manner
utilizing any and all available funding.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
establish the Louisiana Health Care Independence Commission for the purpose of studying SR NO. 131 ENROLLED
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and making recommendations to the Legislature of Louisiana for the optimum means and
procedures by which to provide health care services to Louisiana's uninsured residents
utilizing any and all funding that is available.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence
Commission shall be composed of sixteen members as follows:
(1)One at-large member appointed by the governor.
(2)The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, or the secretary's
designee.
(3)The Medicaid Director for the Department of Health and Hospitals.
(4)The commissioner of the Department of Insurance, or the commissioner's
designee.
(5)The chair of the Louisiana House of Representatives Health and Welfare
Committee, or the chair's designee.
(6)The chair of the Louisiana Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, or the
chair's designee.
(7)The speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives, or his designee.
(8)The president of the Louisiana Senate, or his designee.
(9)The LSU System executive vice president for Health Care and Medical
Education Redesign, or his designee.
(10)A representative from the faculty of the Tulane University School of Public
Health and Tropical Medicine.
(11)A representative of the Louisiana Hospital Association.
(12)A representative of the Louisiana Rural Hospital Association.
(13)A representative of the Louisiana Association of Health Plans.
(14)A representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
(15)A representative of the American Association of Retired Persons.
(16)A representative of the Public Affairs Research Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in making appointments to the commission, the
appointing authorities shall seek to provide diversity in the commission's membership,
including diversity of geography, race, and gender. SR NO. 131 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence
Commission shall hold its first meeting as soon as practicable but in no event later than
thirty days after adjournment sine die of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature on the
call of the president of the Louisiana Senate and that at such organizational meeting the
commission shall elect a chair, a vice chair, and such other officers as it finds necessary and
adopt rules for its procedure.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Health Care Independence
Commission shall meet upon the call of the chair as often as deemed necessary to carry out
its duties, but not less than once a month; that a majority of the commission shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business; that members shall serve without compensation,
but may receive such per diem or reimbursement for travel and expenses as may be provided
by their board, agency or appointing authority; and that the Louisiana Legislature shall
provide primary administrative and staff support to the commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall submit a written report
containing the commission's findings and proposed recommendations regarding optimum
means by which to provide health insurance and health care services to the maximum
number of Louisiana citizens on or before September 1, 2013. The commission shall submit
its report to the presiding officers of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the
Louisiana Senate, and may supplement such report until its termination.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commission shall terminate and all authority
for its existence shall end on December 31, 2013.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the president of the Louisiana Senate, the speaker of the Louisiana House of
Representatives, and to the medicaid director of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE