HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 49

ESTABLISHING THE MEDICAID COST EFFICIENCY TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DELAWARE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, Medicaid is a part-state, part-federal program authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid ensures low income individuals, children, pregnant women, individuals with disabilities, and some seniors have access to healthcare; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid is managed in Delaware by the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance within the Department of Health and Socials Services; and

WHEREAS, Delaware covers individuals up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level; and

WHEREAS, approximately 23 percent of all Delawareans are enrolled in Medicaid; and

WHEREAS, Delaware’s Medicaid expenditures have increased steadily since 1996; and

WHEREAS, between 2007 and 2014, expenditures on Delaware’s Medicaid program increased by 70 percent, while eligibility has increased by 27 percent; and

WHEREAS, in FY2015, Medicaid accounted for 17.4 percent of all of Delaware’s expenditures; and

WHEREAS, approximately $1.88 billion in federal and state money was spent in FY 2016 on Delaware’s Medicaid program; and

WHEREAS, an independent review of Delaware’s Medicaid program conducted in June 2015 failed to yield the results needed to significantly reduce fraud; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid provides essential healthcare services to Delawareans; and

WHEREAS, Medicaid’s costs are projected to continue rise and will be unsustainable on their current arc; and

WHEREAS, the future direction of federal contributions to the Medicaid program are uncertain; and

WHEREAS, Delaware has the flexibility under Medicaid to enact innovative approaches that could improve efficiency, curtail the growth of expenses, and maintain uninterrupted service to our most vulnerable citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that the Medicaid Cost Efficiency Task Force be established to study and make findings and recommendations regarding Delaware’s Medicaid program.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force be composed of the following members:

A member of the Delaware House Majority Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House.

A member of the Delaware House Minority Caucus, appointed by the House Minority Leader.

A member of the Senate Majority Caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tempore.

A member of the Senate Minority Caucus, appointed by the Senate Minority Leader.

Two representatives of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, at least one of which will be from the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, as appointed by the Secretary of the Department.

A representative of the Delaware Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, appointed by the Attorney General.

A representative of the Governor’s Office, appointed by the Governor.

A member of the Medical Society of Delaware.

A member of the Delaware Healthcare Association.

A member of the Office of Management and Budget, who will also serve as chair.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Task Force shall:

Investigate the current state of the Medicaid program in Delaware;

Evaluate the cost effectiveness of the Medicaid program in Delaware;

Investigate the impact of Medicaid fraud in Delaware, and examine the use of contracted investigative agencies to address fraud;

Evaluate options for innovating the Medicaid program in Delaware;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the staff support for the Task Force shall be provided by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force report its findings and recommendations to the members of the Delaware General Assembly by no later than March 15, 2018 .

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution establishes the Medicaid Cost Efficiency Task Force to study and make findings and recommendations regarding Delaware’s Medicaid program.