HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 75
(By Delegates Canterbury, Walters, Carmichael, Evans,
Roberts, Campbell, Trump, Sumner, Crosier, Anderson, Armstead,
Ashley, Azinger, Barker, Blair, Boggs, DeLong, Duke, Eldridge,
Ellem, Frederick, Hamilton, Hartman, Howard, Hrutkay, Iaquinta,
Lane, Leggett, Long, Longstreth, Louisos, Manchin, Martin, Miley,
Moore, Morgan, Overington, Paxton, Porter, Romine, Rowan,
Schadler, Schoen, Spencer, Stalnaker, Stephens, Stevens,
Talbott, Tansill, Wakim, Wells and G. White)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the
prospect of reducing medical care costs for state employees by
providing incentives to covered employees to obtain treatment
in low cost foreign health care facilities accredited by the
Joint Commission International.
Whereas, The cost of medical care to the state to cover public
employees has increased dramatically over time and will inevitably
continue to increase in the future, creating a continuing drain
of public resources; and
Whereas, Competent medical care in certain foreign countries is
significantly less costly on a monetary basis than similar medical
care that may be obtained in this country; and
Whereas, The Joint Commission International is an accrediting entity which promotes the improvement of the quality of care in
other nations and which provides accreditation to certain foreign
medical facilities relative to specific medical procedures and
treatment, insuring that such medical facilities maintain a
threshold modicum of adequate and standard medical care vis a vis
acceptable medical practice in this nation; and
Whereas, The current state of affairs relative to the delivery
of acceptable medical care to public employees at continuously sky-
rocketing monetary costs beckons this legislative body to explore
the prospect of implementing bold and innovative approaches in
addressing the problem; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the prospect of reducing medical care costs for
state employees by providing incentives to covered employees to
obtain treatment in low cost foreign health care facilities
accredited by the Joint Commission International; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2007, 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 and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance.