Illinois Medicaid Reforms Halted By Federal Government

A law enacting major reforms to the state of Illinois's Medicaid program hit a stumbling block on Monday, as the federal government announced that two of those reforms cannot be implemented.

The law, which passed this winter and was signed by Governor Pat Quinn on January 25, contained a number of alterations to the way the state provides health care to its least fortunate. Among them, the All Kids program was pared back, more clients will be moved to managed care and increased checks were to be implemented to fight fraud.

It was these last provisions that forced the federal government to intercede.
The law required that Medicaid recipients present identification proving that they live in Illinois, and a paycheck to prove that their income is low enough to qualify. Those requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said, are in violation of federal rules.

According to those rules, states aren't allowed to change the criteria for qualifying for Medicaid, Illinois Statehouse News reports.

Lawmakers from around the state were quick to express their frustration with the ruling.

Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk held a press conference Monday to decry the decision, and he and several Illinois congressmen drafted a letter to CMMS asking that it reconsider.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/19/illinois-medicaid-reforms_n_903895.html

We need Medicaid reform in Illinois BIG TIME. I just read a stat where it said 75% of all on Medicaid in Illinois are illegals and their children. In Illinois there is a program where parents of low income kids can get medical. However if you are childless like me, you are screwed.