WHEREAS, the Missouri General Assembly has an inherent duty to the citizens of this great state to assure those same citizens with quality health care, including mental health care at affordable prices; and

     WHEREAS, the mental health delivery system is affected by the same changes and stresses characteristic of the health care industry; and

     WHEREAS, an in-depth study must be made to determine the necessary improvements needed to provide such quality mental health care to Missouri's citizens:

     NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the members of the Missouri Senate of the Eighty-ninth General Assembly, the House of Representatives concurring therein, hereby establish the "Interim Mental Health Insurance Availability Committee" to be composed of thirteen members. The members shall consist of two state senators appointed by the President Pro Tem of the senate representing each political party, two state representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House representing each of the major political parties, the Director of the Department of Mental Health or his designee, the Executive Director of the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan or his designee, and a member of the Mental Health Commission; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall also each appoint three individuals that will represent business and other purchasers of insurance; health insurers; consumers of mental health and substance abuse care; substance abuse treatment programs or providers of substance abuse treatment programs; and providers of mental health; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the committee shall make an in-depth study of health insurance coverage of mental illnesses and disorders and substance abuse care. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the current availability and adequacy of such mental health care and its insurance coverage in Missouri, a review of coverage provided for such health care in other states, an analysis of actuarial and other data related to the cost of various models of insurance coverage of such health care, and recommendations that would lead to improved insurance coverage for such health care, and that such committee be authorized to function from October 1, 1997 to January 5, 1999; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the members of the committee by September 1, 1997, and such committee shall meet within ten days of its establishment and organize by selecting a chairman and vice-chairman, one of whom shall be a member of the Senate and the other a member of the House of Representatives; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the committee shall prepare a report, together with its recommendations for any legislative action it deems necessary for submission to the Governor and General Assembly by January 5, 1998 and January 5, 1999; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the staff of Senate Research and House Research and the Committee on Legislative Research, shall provide such legal, research, clerical, technical and bill drafting services as the committee may require in the performance of its duties. The expenses of each staff shall be paid from the contingency fund of their respective departments; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Mental Health shall be responsible for paying out of funds appropriated for such purposes the costs of any outside contractors necessary for the committee to complete its study and shall reimburse the members of the committee for necessary expenses in carrying out their duties; and
 
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of the Missouri Senate be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the Governor, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Department of Mental Health.

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