Fw: Arc and Medicaid Reforms Sent to Governor

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FYI

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeld

egskb@...

Arc and Medicaid Reforms Sent to Governor

The Arc of Illinois

January 7, 2011

Leaders in The Arc:

The Medicaid Reform bill passed the House last night 111-4. It now goes to the

Governor for his signature.

We had a few calls yesterday about the long term provisions of the Medicaid

Reform bill, so we took another look at that language. We found that there is

absolutely nothing in the re-balancing language of HB 5420 that says long term

care is being shifted to the Department of Health Care & Family Services. It

says if the Governor chooses to move monies around among the various agencies

that administer long term care, the HFS Director must first certify that the

amounts being transferred are necessary for the purpose of assisting persons in

or at risk of being in institutional care to transition to community based

settings. This is just a way of protecting agency budgets from being raided by

the Governor because he favors one agency, director, population, services

sector, etc.

Further, the 4% is a limit on fund transfers on an annual basis and is 4% of the

entire long term care budget for all agencies that administer long term care,

i.e. DHS, Aging, HFS and any other agency combined. This is just a limit on

transfers. It doesn't stop us from advocating for a more favorable allocation of

funds for community services in the budget.

The only thing we didn't like was the part that talks about a " reasonable array

of options " and a " balance " between community and institutional care options.

We don't want a balance. We want the system to favor community. But this isn't

a legal mandate and the other wording in this portion of the bill is stronger.

I hope this clarifies your concerns.

Make sure you make your calls to the Capitol today supporting new revenue!

Tony auski

The Arc of Illinois

815-464-1832

Medicaid reforms sent to Quinn

By CHRIS WETTERICH

THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER

The state's All Kids programs would more aptly be called Most Kids under a

sweeping Medicaid reform bill overwhelmingly passed by the House this afternoon.

It now heads to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk.

The legislation, which does not tighten eligibility in other parts of the

Medicaid program, passed on a 111-4 vote. Enrollment in All Kids, an initiative

of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich designed to offer health care to every child in

the state, would be limited to families whose incomes were 300 percent of

poverty or less.

Those who make more than that threshold -- Hamos, director of the state

Department of Healthcare and Family Services estimated 3,000 would be affected

-- would have 12 months to find new health care for their kids. Sponsors of the

bill hope that the federal health care law, parts of which are in effect today,

will allow families booted off All Kids to get health insurance.

The legislation also requires 50 percent of Medicaid recipients to be in managed

care programs by 2015, requires recipients to prove annually that they are

eligible for the program and creates civil penalties for Medicaid fraud.

The bill, which was crafted in bipartisan negotiations, will save $775 million

over the next five years, said House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie,

D-Chicago, its Democratic co-sponsor.

While it cuts back on All Kids eligibility, it does not cut back on optional

Medicaid services that Illinois

Illinois offers, said Rep. Bellock, R-Westmont.

" Twenty other states have cut out those benefits, " Bellock said. " We felt that

those were essential to a better quality health in Illinois in the Medicaid

system. "

Rep. Rich Brauer, R-sburg, who voted for the bill, said he wanted to see

the state reinstitute a fraud investigation unit to look for Medicaid fraud.

Wetterich can be reached at 788-1523.

Copyright 2011 The State Journal-Register. Some rights reserved

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