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2011 SESSION

11104961D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 635
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Rules
on February 1, 2011)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Kilgore)
Directing the Joint Commission on Health Care to study the implementation of the insurance provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Report.

WHEREAS, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law on March 23, 2010; and

WHEREAS, two of PPACA's numerous objectives are to improve health insurance coverage through the establishment of exchanges and to institute reforms in health insurance markets; and

WHEREAS, while PPACA leaves numerous implementation decisions to states, states that fail to implement its provisions face the prospects that some existing health insurance laws will be preempted by the federal provisions and that agencies of the federal government will assume authority to establish and operate programs and functions; and

WHEREAS, the Governor has established the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Council and charged it with going beyond federal health reform and recommending other innovative health care solutions that meet the needs of Virginia’s citizens and government; and

WHEREAS, though two members of the House of Delegates and two members of the Senate serve on the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Council, it is important that the General Assembly direct a body to focus on developing and reviewing legislative changes that may be necessary to ensure that the interests of Virginians are considered and protected as the Commonwealth implements PPACA's insurance provisions; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Commission on Health Care be directed to study the implementation of the insurance provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

In conducting its study, the Joint Commission on Health Care shall monitor the work of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Council, monitor the actions of the State Corporation Commission in implementing the insurance provisions of PPACA, and make recommendations to appropriate public bodies regarding legislation necessary to implement such provisions of PPACA.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Joint Commission on Health Care by the State Corporation Commission, the Department of Health, and the Department of Medical Assistance Services. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission for this study, upon request.

The Joint Commission on Health Care shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2011, and for the second year by November 30, 2012, and the Chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Joint Commission on Health Care intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.