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The plan, which required approval the
Federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, had strong
backing in Washington, D.C., from the Illinois Hospital Association,
many individual hospitals and the entire Illinois congressional
delegation. Gov. Blagojevich personally traveled to Washington to
lobby Tommy Thompson to approve funding for Illinois' provider
assessment program. "This is a
great day for Illinois hospitals, particularly those hospitals that
have been taking on a growing share of the Medicaid caseload and
delivering care for the uninsured," the governor said. "I want to
thank U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and
our own House Speaker Dennis Hastert [R-Yorkville] for their
leadership on this. Together we are expanding eligibility for health
care for children and working families, and we are taking concrete
steps to boost the financial health of our hospitals. At the same
time, we will also target some of these new funds to our nursing
homes and services for people with developmental disabilities."
The state legislation creating the
Hospital Assessment Plan was sponsored by state Sen. Jeff
Schoenberg, D-Evanston. "Today is a major victory for everyone who
needs health care services in Illinois," Schoenberg said. "This
initiative is just one step toward ensuring hospitals and other
health care providers will continue to deliver accessible,
affordable and quality services to Illinois residents. I applaud
Governor Blagojevich and Director Maram for refusing to turn their
backs on millions of Illinois residents who need the security of
knowing their health care needs will be met."
"With this infusion of funds, our hospitals will be able to
continue providing high-quality care, including high-cost,
lifesaving services such as trauma care, neonatal care and care for
burn victims," said Kenneth C. Robbins, president of the Illinois
Hospital Association. "These funds will also help hospitals keep up
with advances in medical technology, recruit and retain qualified
nurses and doctors, and improve patient safety."
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The goal of the
program is to target additional funds to help hospitals cover the
cost of growing Medicaid caseloads. Illinois is one of 17 states
across the country with provider-assessment programs. Under the
plan, Illinois will receive an additional $430 million in federal
funds for the state's health care system.
"A lot of people said
this couldn't be done. We knew all along it would be a heavy lift,
but we were persistent and worked with CMS [Federal Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services] until we arrived at a plan that
worked for everyone to strengthen the Illinois health care system,"
said Illinois Department of Public Aid Director Barry Maram. "Thanks
to the leadership of the governor, the administration forged a
broad-based coalition, led by Speaker Hastert, that worked together
very effectively in support of this plan in Washington. This is a
very gratifying achievement, coming as it does at a time when the
state and all of our health care partners are facing tremendous
financial pressures. Strengthening the financial health of our
hospitals will enable us to continue providing quality health care
for our most vulnerable citizens."
Sister Sheila Lyne, president and
chief executive officer of Mercy Hospital Medical Center, an
inner-city hospital that cares for many of Chicago's neediest
citizens, applauds the efforts of the administration. "Governor
Blagojevich and Director Maram deserve high praise for securing
these much-needed dollars for Illinois hospitals so we can continue
to provide high-quality health care to our vulnerable patients," she
said.
In a series of studies by the Kaiser
Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, Illinois has been singled
out as a national leader in delivering health care for the uninsured
during the Blagojevich administration.
The Blagojevich administration has
increased health care funding in Illinois by more than $1 billion,
despite facing a two-year budget deficit of $7.5 billion.
[Illinois
Department of Public Aid news release] |
