HLS 162ES-321 ORIGINAL
2016 Second Extraordinary Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 36
BY REPRESENTATIVE GLOVER
INSURANCE/HEALTH: Urges and requests the Department of Insurance to compare and
contrast health insurance reimbursement rates to medical providers in each of the
metropolitan regions of Louisiana and with the reimbursement rates in similar
metropolitan regions of the United States
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the Department of Insurance to compare and contrast health insurance
3 reimbursement rates to medical providers in the metropolitan regions of Louisiana
4 and with health insurance reimbursement rates in similar metropolitan regions of the
5 United States.
6 WHEREAS, affordable and available healthcare is a necessity for ensuring the health
7and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana; and
8 WHEREAS, many areas of Louisiana are currently confronting, or will soon be
9confronting, a shortage of doctors in all areas of medical practice; and
10 WHEREAS, the shortage of doctors is caused in some part by the higher
11reimbursement rates available in some areas and not in other areas, resulting in physicians
12practicing in areas with higher reimbursement rates; and
13 WHEREAS, Louisiana and the other states of the United States rely on health
14insurance policies to pay for medical treatment; and
15 WHEREAS, health insurance premiums are directly tied to reimbursement rates; and
16 WHEREAS, every citizen is now required by federal law to obtain a policy of health
17insurance that contains specified minimum coverages; and
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
19Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Insurance to
20perform a study that compares and contrasts the health insurance reimbursement rates paid
Page 1 of 2 HLS 162ES-321 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 36
1to medical providers in each of the metropolitan regions of Louisiana and in similar
2metropolitan regions of the United States.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance is urged to
4determine whether higher reimbursement rates paid by health insurers in certain
5metropolitan regions result in higher insurance premiums paid by the residents of those
6regions.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance is urged to
8determine whether the ability of certain health systems to command higher reimbursement
9rates than competing health systems is likely to lead to less competition and thereby increase
10consumer health costs.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance is urged to take
12testimony from health insurers, doctors, hospital administrators, and other interested parties
13as part of the study.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance is urged to report
15its findings to the House Committee on Insurance on or before January 15, 2017.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17commissioner of insurance.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 36 Original 2016 Second Extraordinary Session Glover
Urges and requests the Department of Insurance to compare and contrast health insurance
reimbursement rates to medical providers in each of the metropolitan regions of Louisiana
and with the reimbursement rates in similar metropolitan regions of the United States, and
to determine the impact of higher reimbursement rates on insurance premiums and health
costs.
Page 2 of 2