Health News
If things don?t change soon, health care could be in for major setbacks in Illinois. The State budget battle is approaching its fifth month and counting. So far, Medicaid payments continue per court order, but other services are beginning to run out of money:
It?s Not Too Late to Raise Your Voice!
Contact your State legislators to let them know how concerned you are about the future of health care in Illinois. Tell them that Illinois seniors and children are especially vulnerable. We can?t let cuts affect them.Many program cuts will result in greater costs to the State in the not-so-long run. For example:
- Medicaid: The Long-term Costs Of Short-term Savings
The Rauner Administration?s decision to cut $1.5 billion in Medicaid spending to balance the state budget is like the proverbial cutting off the nose to spite the face. Central to the Rauner ?plan? is to tighten eligibility for people with disabilities...
- Rauner's Budget Is Bad Medicine For State's Health Services
The following post originally appeared on Crain's Chicago Business. The much-anticipated ?turnaround budget? from Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner feels more like a ?look back,? parading out failed ideas from past years. Rauner says this budget "preserves...
- The Affordable Care Act Will Not Replace Illinois Cares Rx
Illinois Cares Rx is one of the many health programs on the chopping block in Governor Quinn's Medicaid budget plan. This will affect 160,000 low income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Illinois Cares Rx to help them pay for life-saving...
- 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...
- 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
Halloween Marks a Scary Time for Health Care in Illinois
If things don?t change soon, health care could be in for major setbacks in Illinois. The State budget battle is approaching its fifth month and counting. So far, Medicaid payments continue per court order, but other services are beginning to run out of money:
- State payments to 911 call centers throughout the Illinois have been suspended, putting emergency services in jeopardy.
- Illinois has stopped paying medical and dental claims for 150,000 state employees. The long-term cost of delayed care for a group of this size could be far greater than the cost of paying for care and preventative care today.
- The state?s Psychiatric Leadership Capacity Grant, which was $27 million in the State?s FY2015 budget, is no longer being funded, affecting most of the 140 community health centers in Illinois and thousands of people who rely on them for psychiatric care.
It?s Not Too Late to Raise Your Voice!
Contact your State legislators to let them know how concerned you are about the future of health care in Illinois. Tell them that Illinois seniors and children are especially vulnerable. We can?t let cuts affect them.Many program cuts will result in greater costs to the State in the not-so-long run. For example:
- Home care services and home delivered meals to seniors citizens cost a fraction of the $75,000 annual cost of nursing home care. Cuts to these programs will mean more seniors ending up in nursing homes, paid for by Medicaid.
- Cut backs to after-school programs and Department of Children and Family Services support for older children will mean more kids and young adults intersecting with the justice system. Even short-term incarceration can pay for a full year of after-school activities for a child.
- Cut backs to mental health services will only cause an increase in city and country jail populations where the State will not only have to provide mental health services, but food, clothing and shelter.
And remind them that, as the State?s infrastructure crumbles and the State?s bond ratings tumble, it will only get more and more expensive to catch up.
Phillip Lanier
Health Policy Intern
Health & Disability Advocates
Phillip Lanier
Health Policy Intern
Health & Disability Advocates
- Medicaid: The Long-term Costs Of Short-term Savings
The Rauner Administration?s decision to cut $1.5 billion in Medicaid spending to balance the state budget is like the proverbial cutting off the nose to spite the face. Central to the Rauner ?plan? is to tighten eligibility for people with disabilities...
- Rauner's Budget Is Bad Medicine For State's Health Services
The following post originally appeared on Crain's Chicago Business. The much-anticipated ?turnaround budget? from Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner feels more like a ?look back,? parading out failed ideas from past years. Rauner says this budget "preserves...
- The Affordable Care Act Will Not Replace Illinois Cares Rx
Illinois Cares Rx is one of the many health programs on the chopping block in Governor Quinn's Medicaid budget plan. This will affect 160,000 low income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Illinois Cares Rx to help them pay for life-saving...
- 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...
- 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...