SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 33
(By Senator Helmick)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study relative to ways to enhance and preserve rural
health infrastructure by defining essential community
services, in addition to the feasibility of allowing
advanced nurse practitioners to serve in health maintenance
organizations in lieu of a primary care physician, as well
as the feasibility and cost of requiring insurance coverage
for the treatment of serious mental illness.
Whereas, A need exists to enhance and preserve adequate
health care for persons residing in rural areas of the state; and
Whereas, A major issue that needs to be addressed in
relation to health care in this state relates to keeping the cost
of good health care within reasonable limits for the persons
residing throughout the state and allowing advanced nurse
practitioners to serve in lieu of primary physicians in health
maintenance organizations may present a reasonable alternative
toward reducing cost; and
Whereas, A major problem in health care that has existed without being adequately addressed is the availability of
effective treatment for serious mental illness and the payment
therefor; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study ways to enhance and
preserve rural health infrastructure by defining essential
community services, in addition to the feasibility of allowing
advanced nurse practitioners to serve in health maintenance
organizations in lieu of a primary care physician, as well as the
feasibility and cost of requiring insurance coverage for the
treatment of serious mental illness; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1999,
on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with
drafts of any legislation necessary 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.