Health News
The Chicago Tribune recent editorial, "Time to move on medicaid spending," correctly points out that Illinois must look at its Medicaid spending and implement innovative ways to cut costs while preserving care to its very poor and sick participants.
However, the suggestion to cut the small but extremely crucial program, Illinois Cares Rx, to assist in this important endeavor would be penny-wise and pound foolish. Illinois Cares Rx plays an important role in our medical safety net system. By assisting Illinois Cares Rx participants with deductibles and co-payments for their Medicare Part D plan, the cost of which are otherwise out of reach for them, we don?t force them to cut corners on taking their medicines or skip filling prescriptions altogether. This, in turn, keeps our Medicare beneficiaries healthier and out of hospitals and nursing homes, where Medicare beneficiaries quickly become Medicaid recipients. By investing in prescription access now, we avoid greater costs later.
Just because the federal government does not foot the bill does not mean it is not a good idea.
John V. Coburn
Senior Policy Attorney
Health & Disability Advocates
- The Negative Impact Of Smart Act Cuts
This post originally appeared as a letter from Age Options to the IL House of Representatives human Services Appropriations Committee, submitted on Feb. 20, 2013 The cuts to Medicaid that were implemented July 1, 2012 as a result of the SMART Act have...
- The State Budget Aftermath - What's Next?
On May 25, 2012, the Illinois legislature voted to pass Senate Bill 2840, which will make drastic cuts to the state?s Medicaid program, in order to help close a $2.7 billion deficit. The news has been confusing, but the bottom line is that many of the...
- Choose Wisely, Illinois: Alternatives For Balancing The Medicaid Budget
On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the Governor released a proposal for the reduction of the current $2.7 billion Medicaid budget deficit. The proposal, developed with a group of legislators on the Medicaid Commission, includes $2 billion in cuts to eligibility...
- Whose Budget Problem Is Worse Than Illinois?
Illinois has a budget problem. Ironically, our state leaders all agree that one of the ways to solve this problem is to pass it along to the household budgets of some of our most vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. How? ...
- Why We Must Save Illinois Cares Rx
Governor Quinn's proposed budget includes the elimination of the entire Illinois Cares Rx program, which provides prescription drug assistance to low income seniors and people with disabilities. The benefits of the Illinois Cares Rx Program to its...
Health News
Cutting Illinois Cares Rx Would be Penny-Wise & Pound Foolish
The Chicago Tribune recent editorial, "Time to move on medicaid spending," correctly points out that Illinois must look at its Medicaid spending and implement innovative ways to cut costs while preserving care to its very poor and sick participants.
However, the suggestion to cut the small but extremely crucial program, Illinois Cares Rx, to assist in this important endeavor would be penny-wise and pound foolish. Illinois Cares Rx plays an important role in our medical safety net system. By assisting Illinois Cares Rx participants with deductibles and co-payments for their Medicare Part D plan, the cost of which are otherwise out of reach for them, we don?t force them to cut corners on taking their medicines or skip filling prescriptions altogether. This, in turn, keeps our Medicare beneficiaries healthier and out of hospitals and nursing homes, where Medicare beneficiaries quickly become Medicaid recipients. By investing in prescription access now, we avoid greater costs later.
Just because the federal government does not foot the bill does not mean it is not a good idea.
John V. Coburn
Senior Policy Attorney
Health & Disability Advocates
- The Negative Impact Of Smart Act Cuts
This post originally appeared as a letter from Age Options to the IL House of Representatives human Services Appropriations Committee, submitted on Feb. 20, 2013 The cuts to Medicaid that were implemented July 1, 2012 as a result of the SMART Act have...
- The State Budget Aftermath - What's Next?
On May 25, 2012, the Illinois legislature voted to pass Senate Bill 2840, which will make drastic cuts to the state?s Medicaid program, in order to help close a $2.7 billion deficit. The news has been confusing, but the bottom line is that many of the...
- Choose Wisely, Illinois: Alternatives For Balancing The Medicaid Budget
On Thursday, April 19, 2012, the Governor released a proposal for the reduction of the current $2.7 billion Medicaid budget deficit. The proposal, developed with a group of legislators on the Medicaid Commission, includes $2 billion in cuts to eligibility...
- Whose Budget Problem Is Worse Than Illinois?
Illinois has a budget problem. Ironically, our state leaders all agree that one of the ways to solve this problem is to pass it along to the household budgets of some of our most vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. How? ...
- Why We Must Save Illinois Cares Rx
Governor Quinn's proposed budget includes the elimination of the entire Illinois Cares Rx program, which provides prescription drug assistance to low income seniors and people with disabilities. The benefits of the Illinois Cares Rx Program to its...