Policy Resolution HHS-15-40

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) has always been dedicated to improving the quality of health services for every constituent;

WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) commonly called the ACA, is a U.S. federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010;

WHEREAS, the ACA sets forth monumental health policy reforms, as it reshapes the way virtually all Americans will receive and finance their health care;

WHEREAS, among the key features of the ACA are rights and protections for health care consumers, accountability measures for insurance companies, expanded eligibility for the Medicaid program; and a requirement that every American maintain a minimum level of health insurance coverage;

WHEREAS, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling permitting states the ability to opt out of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion;

WHEREAS, more than half of the nation’s uninsured population lives in States that have chosen not to expand Medicaid;

WHEREAS, reducing health disparities and achieving health equity has been a paramount national health goal, and a major component of the rationale underlying Medicaid expansion when the ACA was crafted;

WHEREAS, access to health insurance is a fundamental determinant of health outcomes, and without it, reducing health disparities among African Americans would be impossible;

WHEREAS, the ACA provides benefits for households who become eligible due to the full implementation of the ACA being financed entirely with federals funds and the federal share of funding for benefits to increase coverage and improve the quality of services for all citizens;

WHEREAS, the federal government will bear 100 percent of the costs of newly eligible Medicaid recipients in the states for the first three years, and compared to the human and economic costs of non-participation in all of the ACA provisions, it is absolutely clear that full participation is in the best interest of every state; and

WHEREAS, as of October 2014, twenty states have not expanded Medicaid eligibility under the ACA to the detriment of both those who do not have health insurance and those who do.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports citizens’ petition initiatives in states that have not implemented all provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand eligibility standards;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL reiterates its support for states to expand Medicaid as set forth under the ACA, and if the legislature fails to act, NBCSL fully supports citizens petitioning the government for the expansion;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NBCSL’s support is based on the ACA providing services that will improve both access to and quality of care for African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans, Native Americans, rural residents, women, children, and other historically excluded people this country;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, NBCSL urges citizens to develop petition initiatives in states that have not fully implemented eligibility standards as provided from the healthcare exchange servicing their states in accordance with the ACA; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSORS: Representative Alan Williams (FL) and Representative Clem Smith (MO)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Health and Human Services Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Chair: Senator Willie Simmons (MS)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 12, 2014
• Ratification is certified by: Representative Joe Armstrong (TN), President