HP1124
LD 1556
Session - 126th Maine Legislature
 
LR 2147
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Resolve, To Establish the Study Group To Examine the Issue of Medicaid Expansion

Sec. 1. Study group established. Resolved: That the Study Group To Examine the Issue of Medicaid Expansion, referred to in this resolve as "the study group," is established.

1. Membership. The study group consists of 13 members appointed as follows:

A. Five members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including at least 2 members from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
B. Five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, including at least 2 members from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
C. One member representing the health care industry, appointed by the President of the Senate;
D. One member appointed by the Governor; and
E. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee.

2. Chairs. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the study group.

3. Appointments; convening of study group. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. When the appointment of all members has been completed, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the study group. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the study group to meet and conduct its business.

4. Duties. The study group shall review the issues associated with expanding Medicaid eligibility pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In conducting its review, the study group shall specifically examine:

A. The projected costs to the State associated with an expansion of Medicaid eligibility during the 10 years immediately following such an expansion;
B. The potential costs to the State associated with an expansion of Medicaid eligibility after the time period described in paragraph A;
C. Limitations on the growth of MaineCare that may be implemented to ensure that the State’s other budget priorities receive adequate funding;
D. The results of the expansion of Medicaid eligibility that occurred in the State in 2002 and whether and how those results might inform the current question of expanding Medicaid eligibility;
E. The existence of less costly alternatives to expanding Medicaid eligibility that might result in a reduction in the number of uninsured individuals in the State, such as utilization of the health insurance exchange to be established under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act;
F. The possibility of obtaining from the Federal Government higher Medicaid matching rates or other benefits to citizens of the State as a result of the expansion of Medicaid as proposed in Legislative Document 1066, "An Act To Increase Access to Health Coverage and Quality Maine for Federal Funding," of the 126th Legislature; and
G. Any other issues the study group determines appropriate.

5. Staff assistance. The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the study group.

6. Report. No later than December 4, 2013, the study group shall submit a report to the Legislative Council that includes its findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation.

summary

This resolve establishes the Study Group To Examine the Issue of Medicaid Expansion to examine the issues associated with expanding Medicaid eligibility pursuant to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.


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