61^ST WYOMING LEGISLATURE

INTERIM COMMITTEE STUDIES

2012 INTERIM

JOINT LABOR, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES INTERIM COMMITTEE

Standard Budget: $45,000.00

Additional Budget: $15,000.00 for Study #5

Priority #: 1 Medicaid Review

Medicaid is a primary cost driver in the State's budget. The Committee will monitor and review all aspects of the program, including program growth projections, eligibility and benefit changes if the Affordable Care Act is upheld, cost saving opportunities, waiver program waiting lists and possible innovative waiver programs involving such things as co-pays and medical case management.

Priority #: 2 Health insurance exchanges

The Committee will monitor the Health Insurance Exchange Steering Committee and respond as needed. As part of the study, the Committee will explore the sale of health insurance policies across state lines as part of or independent of a health insurance exchange.

Priority #: 3 Response to federal initiatives and agency reports

The Committee's jurisdiction includes areas that require state response to federal legislative or regulatory initiatives, as well as areas that require state executive branch reports. The Committee will monitor and respond as needed to federal initiatives and state agency reports.

Priority #: 4 Public health preventive measures

Many areas of public health are inter-related. Effective preventive health may reduce costs of private insurance and reduce demand on public health benefit programs. The Committee will study all aspects of public health, to include: statewide immunization program; acquired brain injury prevention/management; supervision of and funding for public health nurses; wellness/prevention in publicly funded health programs, including state employees.

Priority #: 5 Involuntary hospitalization

Review and evaluate possible changes at the Wyoming State Hospital to increase capacity for Title 25 patients. Schizophrenic and geriatric patients require extended hospitalizations, causing increased use of private placements that are costly and burdensome to county governments. The Committee will look at the causes of the bed shortage at WSH and possible solutions, including treatment changes to decrease length of stay and address specialized geriatric psychiatric care needs.