House Joint Resolution No. 15

Introduced By _______________________________________________________________________________



A Joint Resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the state of Montana requesting an interim study on controlling hospital costs in the state; and requiring a report of the findings of the study to the 56th legislature.



WHEREAS, the cost of health care services continues to outpace the increase in income for Montanans as is shown by the fact that Montanans spent 23% more on health care in 1992 than they did in 1987, while wages increased only 7% during the same period; and

WHEREAS, the problem of providing health care insurance for Montanans cannot be solved in the absence of controlling the costs of health care services; and

WHEREAS, hospital services account for 55% of all health care expenditures by Montanans and are therefore the largest single component of health care costs; and

WHEREAS, hospital costs have risen steadily over the past 10 years, with annual rate increases for Montana Hospitals Rate Review System, Inc., participants ranging from 3% to 11% each year.



NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

That an appropriate interim committee be assigned to make:

(1) a complete study of all cost containment strategies that might be useful and effective in the State of Montana to control the rising costs of hospital services, including voluntary rate review, global budgeting, and ratesetting commissions; and

(2) recommendations to the 56th Legislature as to which strategies would best serve the citizens of the state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the interim committee report the findings of the study and its recommendations to the 56th Legislature.

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