Senator Kahn offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 45.

A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to pass and the President of the United States to sign legislation that will provide flexibility in providing care for Medicare and Medicaid dual eligibles and share Medicare savings.

            Whereas, The Michigan Legislature recognizes the growing population of older people and individuals with disabilities and the increased demand on the state budget to bear the primary role of financing long-term care services; and

            Whereas, Michigan long-term care consumers deserve a strong, sustainable federal and state partnership that encourages a consumer-focused system of care that ensures adequate consumer protections for beneficiaries; and

            Whereas, The current long-term care system is complicated by the fact that Medicare and Medicaid service providers are not able to share acute and long-term care information and decision making. This can cause an individual’s care to become fragmented and result in higher rates of preventable hospitalizations, more reliance on emergency room care, and increased nursing facility admissions; and

            Whereas, As of February 2009, Michigan's Medicaid caseload of 1.67 million included an estimated 190,000 dual eligibles (Medicare and Medicaid). Studies estimate that expenditures by both the Medicare and Medicaid programs for dual eligibles in Michigan will exceed $7.4 billion in fiscal year 2010; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we request that Congress pass and the President sign legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to partner with the state of Michigan and to implement integrated care strategies to provide the necessary long-term care infrastructure and service options by providing the state of Michigan flexibility to utilize Medicare dollars for the benefit of dual-eligible beneficiaries; and be it further

            Resolved, That we believe that the state of Michigan should be given the ability to share in the Medicare savings for dual-eligible beneficiaries that are achieved through such innovative policies; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.