HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 141

(By Delegates Perdue, Hatfield, Barill, D. Campbell, Ferns, Lawrence, Marshall, Moore, Poore, Fleischauer, Moye, Perry, Phillips, Rodighiero, Staggers, Border, Ellington, Householder and Rowan)

[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources; Reported 2011.]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct a study on the feasibility of adding pregnant women to CHIP in West Virginia.

    WHEREAS, The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (CHIPRA) authorized a number of key provisions and new state options. One of those new options is for States to enroll pregnant women who meet the income eligibility requirements; and

    WHEREAS, Previously, States could only provide maternity care under CHIP through a federal waiver or by using the “unborn child” rule; and

    WHEREAS, According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, prior to enactment of CHIPRA, a total of seventeen states covered pregnancy-related services using CHIP funds; six through federal waivers, and twelve through the “unborn” child rule with Rhode Island extending coverage through both; and

    WHEREAS, According to the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM), uninsured women receive, on average, less maternity care and fewer expensive perinatal services; and

    WHEREAS, Uninsured women are more likely to have poor pregnancy outcomes than are insured women, including pregnancy related hypertension, placental abruption, and extended hospital stays. Their newborns are also more likely to have adverse outcomes, including low birth weight and even death; and

    WHEREAS, Some women may be uninsured when they become pregnant because their incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid, but they cannot obtain private insurance; and

    WHEREAS, More uninsured pregnant women can receive coverage for maternity care if a state elects the new CHIP option to cover pregnant women; therefore be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to conduct a study on the feasibility of adding pregnant women to CHIP in West Virginia; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the Legislature, on the first day of the regular session, 2012 on its findings, conclusions and recommendations together with drafts of any legislation to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.