SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 17

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER PURCELL

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 17: MEDI-CAL: ELIGIBILITY.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES ADMINISTERS THE MEDI-CAL PROGRAM UNDER WHICH QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME PERSONS ARE PROVIDED WITH HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD INCREASE THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY LIMITATION AND ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH 2 VEHICLES MAY QUALIFY FOR MEDI-CAL SERVICES, AS SPECIFIED.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 17: RELATING TO MEDI-CAL

WHEREAS, THE INCOME LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDI-CAL HAS NOT CHANGED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS WHILE THE COST OF LIVING HAS INCREASED; AND

WHEREAS, PERSONS WHO HAVE AN INCOME OVER A SET AMOUNT AND HAVE SUPPORTED OTHER PERSONS IN NEED OF HEALTH CARE, NOW CANNOT AFFORD THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE; AND

WHEREAS, THERE IS A LARGE PORTION OF PERSONS WHO WORK PART-TIME BECAUSE THEIR HOURS HAVE BEEN CUT AND WHO MAY LOSE THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF LARGE CREDIT CARD DEBT DUE TO HEALTH CARE PAYMENTS; AND

WHEREAS, THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE CAUSING PERSONS TO GO INTO FORECLOSURE BECAUSE OF CREDIT CARD DEBT; AND

WHEREAS, THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF HOSPITALS THAT ARE CLOSING BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID FOR CARE THEY PROVIDE TO THE UNINSURED; AND

WHEREAS, FIFTY-SEVEN TO 63 MILLION PERSONS USE EMERGENCY SERVICES IN HOSPITALS; AND

WHEREAS, IT WAS REPORTED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE THAT UNPLANNED ADMITTANCES OR HOSPITALIZATIONS IMPOSE AN ESTIMATED $17.45 BILLION IN COSTS A YEAR ON MEDICARE; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE DOES NOT COVER PERSONS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED BEFORE A CERTAIN DATE AND THESE PERSONS ARE UNDER A LOT OF STRESS, LEADING TO MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS; AND

WHEREAS, PERSONS ARE REFUSED MEDI-CAL BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO CARS EVEN IF ONE OF THOSE CARS IS THE FAMILY CAR; AND

WHEREAS, HOUSEHOLDS NEED TWO CARS IN ORDER TO LOOK FOR WORK IF PERSONS IN THE HOUSEHOLD ARE WORKING PART-TIME OR HAVE BEEN LAID OFF; AND

WHEREAS, THE COST OF RENT OR HOME LOAN PAYMENTS ALONG WITH FIRE AND CAR INSURANCE CAN ADD UP TO AN AMOUNT THAT EXCEEDS THE ELIGIBILITY THRESHOLD FOR MEDI-CAL; AND

WHEREAS, PERSONS WITH HEALTH INSURANCE ARE GETTING TURNED DOWN BY THEIR INSURANCE COMPANY BECAUSE OF PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM; AND

WHEREAS, MOST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE GETTING SUBSTANDARD MEDICAL CARE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT PEOPLE WITH TWO CARS BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDI-CAL IF ONE CARE IS USED FOR WORK AND THE OTHER CAR IS THE FAMILY CAR; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2009 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFORE, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE INCOME LIMITATION ON ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDI-CAL BE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF A REASONABLE DISPOSABLE INCOME; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 09 16403

- 0 -