PRINTER'S NO. 4517
No. 725 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY S. H. SMITH, OCTOBER 22, 2002
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 22, 2002
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to take action
2 to increase Medicare benefits and curb Medicare insurance
3 rates.
4 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's senior citizens are facing numerous
5 challenges that could threaten their ability to receive
6 accessible and affordable health care; and
7 WHEREAS, Some insurance companies that offer Medicare
8 supplemental coverage in Pennsylvania have announced rate
9 increases for senior citizens as high as 200% starting January
10 1, 2003; and
11 WHEREAS, Many insurance companies have already dropped
12 Medicare supplemental coverage, leaving millions of seniors in
13 Pennsylvania with limited or no options for costs not covered by
14 Medicare; and
15 WHEREAS, Deep reductions are proposed in Medicare
16 reimbursements for a wide range of drugs and medical devices
17 necessary to treat senior citizens; and
18 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania continues to pay for prescription
1 coverage for many senior citizens through the Pharmaceutical
2 Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) program that could be
3 covered by Federal dollars if the Federal Government would enact
4 prescription coverage through Medicare; and
5 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
6 Pennsylvania is significantly concerned about these upcoming
7 challenges to senior health care in this Commonwealth; and
8 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives is troubled about the
9 potential adverse impact of these changes on senior citizens and
10 our health care delivery systems in urban, rural and suburban
11 areas; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
13 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Pennsylvania
14 congressional delegation not to permit the substantial cuts in
15 Medicare reimbursements to Pennsylvania's health care providers;
16 and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly call on the Congress of
18 the United States to take the lead in curbing rapidly rising
19 Medicare insurance rates for our senior citizens; and be it
20 further
21 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly urge the Congress to
22 determine a way to offer more options to supplement Medicare in
23 rural, urban and suburban regions of this Commonwealth; and be
24 it further
25 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly memorialize the Congress
26 to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare to assist this
27 Commonwealth in its efforts to aid seniors through its PACE
28 program; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
30 the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
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1 member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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