§11-27-1. Legislative findings.

The Legislature finds and declares that:

(a) Medicaid provides access to basic medical care for our citizens who are not physically, mentally or economically able to provide for their own care.

(b) Inadequate compensation of health care providers rendering Medicaid services is a barrier to indigent persons obtaining access to health care services.

(c) Without adequate compensation for the provision of Medicaid services, this state cannot attract or retain a sufficient number of health care providers necessary to serve our indigent population.

(d) While participation by a state in the Medicaid program created by Title XIX of the Social Security Act is voluntary, the reality is that states, and particularly this state, have no choice but to participate. The alternative is to deprive indigent citizens and particularly the children of indigent families of basic medical services.

(e) The federal government sets the criteria for eligibility to obtain Medicaid services. The federal government also requires that certain services be provided as part of a state's Medicaid program.

(f) Enactment by the United States Congress in 1991 of Public Law 102-234, amending Section 1903 of the Social Security Act, places limitations and restrictions on the flexibility states have to raise state share for its medical assistance program.

(g) The tax enacted in this article is intended to conform with the requirements of Public Law 102-234.