Pritzker to File Federal Waiver to
Expand Medicaid Coverage During COVID-19 Pandemic
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[August 13, 2020]
During
the administration’s daily press briefing on the state’s response to
the coronavirus pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker announced that his
administration will file a federal waiver to expand Medicaid
coverage as COVID-19 continues to spread and affect the daily lives
people across the nation.
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“With the federal government’s newly declared
state of emergency, under the Stafford Act my administration is
filing a request for a federal waiver to allow our Medicaid program
to more freely respond to the COVID-19 crisis by expanding medical
services,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “During this crisis my
administration is working to ensure that those who fear that they
may be getting sick have access to the testing and treatment that
they need without being saddled with costly medical bills for their
care.”
Building on the state’s earlier measures to help working families
through the expansion of unemployment insurance and calls for
utilities to halt shut-offs and late payment fees, the Pritzker
administration started working on the waiver application as soon as
the federal government declared a national emergency and activated
the Stafford Act.
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If the federal waiver is approved, the state will be
able to expand Medicaid services through the addition of new medical
providers, increased access across the state and ramped up services
to many of the state’s most vulnerable populations.
The state of Illinois continues to use every tool at its disposal to
minimize the spread of COVID-19 and protect the general public —
including banning mass gatherings, closing schools and strongly
encouraging social distancing practices.
Those experiencing symptoms should call a health care provider who
will help arrange medical treatment without putting others at risk
of exposure.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has a statewide COVID-19
hotline and website to answer any questions from the public or to
report a suspected case: call 1-800-889-3931 or visit
IDPH.illinois.gov.
[Office of the Governor JB Pritzker] |