HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27
(By Delegates Leach, Craig, Hubbard, Morgan,
Compton, Douglas, Perdue and Stephens)
[Introduced February 18, 2002; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a
study of the feasibility of implementing a Medicaid buy-in for
people with disabilities.
Whereas, Only three percent of the people receiving
Supplemental Security Income ("SSI") in West Virginia work and only
the state of Alabama has a lower percentage of SSI recipients
working; and
Whereas, The risk of losing necessary health care coverage
under Medicaid is a significant disincentive for people with
disabilities to work; and
Whereas, Many West Virginians with disabilities are forced to
choose between maintaining needed health care coverage under
Medicaid or becoming independent and productive by working; and
Whereas, Some West Virginians with disabilities are forced to
spend down their income through out-of-pocket medical expenses
before qualifying for Medicaid coverage and these spend-downs may
constitute up to one half of their income; and
Whereas, People with disabilities who do go to work often must
refuse raises or promotions at work and the resulting opportunities
to build assets for retirement or other personal savings because to
do so would negatively affect their health care coverage under
Medicaid; and
Whereas, Establishing a Medicaid buy-in program in West
Virginia would allow West Virginians with disabilities to go to
work, thus earning more money and building their savings without
jeopardizing their health care coverage; and
Whereas, A Medicaid buy-in would allow West Virginians with
disabilities to maintain their health care coverage despite
exceeding earned income limits under SSI and §1619(b) of the Social
Security Act; and
Whereas, A Medicaid buy-in would allow for persons with
disabilities to contribute substantially to West Virginia's tax
base; and
Whereas, West Virginians who participate in a Medicaid buy-in
would pay premiums and co-pays based on a sliding scale fee
according to income and these premiums would offset the cost of the
program; and
Whereas, Research has shown that being employed lowers the utilization of acute health care services under Medicaid by persons
with disabilities; and
Whereas, A Medicaid buy-in would cover services needed by
people with severe disabilities that are not available under other
health insurance policies; and
Whereas, Most people who would choose to participate in a
Medicaid buy-in are currently Medicaid recipients, thus limiting
any fiscal impact of implementing a buy-in program; and
Whereas, The Medicaid buy-in option was authorized by the
federal government in 1997 and was broadened under the Ticket to
Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999; 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 the feasibility of
implementing a Medicaid buy-in program for people with
disabilities; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2003, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its purpose; 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 appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance.