PRINTER'S NO. 1861
No. 185 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN AND OLIVER, JUNE 2, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, JUNE 2, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
2 examine the effectiveness of Commonwealth programs and
3 efforts to ensure the quality of health care services
4 provided in this Commonwealth.
5 WHEREAS, Fundamental changes are occurring in the health care
6 delivery system in this Commonwealth; and
7 WHEREAS, There has been a dramatic increase in the growth of
8 managed care, an increase in the number of persons without
9 health insurance, an increase in the number of hospital mergers
10 and consolidations, a shift from acute inpatient care services
11 to outpatient care services and a change in the mix of health
12 care practitioners; and
13 WHEREAS, The Department of Health is revising its rules and
14 regulations on quality assurance as a result of the sunset of
15 the certificate of need program; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
17 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to examine existing
18 Commonwealth programs and efforts to monitor changes in the
1 delivery and reimbursement practices of health care services and
2 to ensure that these changes do not negatively impact on the
3 quality of health care in this Commonwealth; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee:
5 (1) Review the adequacy of Federal and State laws,
6 regulations and standards relating to the assurance of
7 quality care, including the associated licensure and
8 certification of health care facilities, health care
9 practitioners and health plans.
10 (2) Review the use of nationally recognized voluntary
11 accreditation standards and practices for assuring quality in
12 health care delivery in this Commonwealth and other states.
13 (3) Identify the effective methods, policies and
14 practices used in this Commonwealth and other states to
15 promote and achieve quality standards of care.
16 (4) Identify current efforts being made in this
17 Commonwealth and other states to improve public
18 accountability of health care providers and health plans in
19 the delivery of quality services.
20 (5) Identify those special concerns in providing the
21 above-referenced quality assurance processes and practices to
22 address the needs of children, persons with mental illness,
23 substance abusers, persons with disabilities and person with
24 chronic illness; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the Department of Health, the appropriate
26 State professional licensure boards, the Department of Public
27 Welfare, the Insurance Department, the Department of Aging, the
28 Health Care Cost Containment Council, the Health and Human
29 Services Committee and all other Commonwealth agencies shall
30 provide assistance upon request as the Legislative Budget and
19970H0185R1861 - 2 -
1 Finance Committee may deem appropriate; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
3 may hold hearings, take testimony and make its investigations at
4 such places as it deems necessary in this Commonwealth. Each
5 member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
6 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
7 it further
8 RESOLVED, That the committee shall report to the House of
9 Representatives on its activities, findings and recommendations
10 by June 30, 1998, and shall issue interim reports to the House
11 of Representatives as the committee deems necessary.
E29L82JRW/19970H0185R1861 - 3 -