Pensions and healthcare expenditures makes up the brunt of Illinois' debt. | Stock photo
Pensions and healthcare expenditures makes up the brunt of Illinois' debt. | Stock photo
Illinois Chamber President and CEO Tom Maish testified before the Senate Executive Committee on Jan. 9 in opposition to the Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act.
The chamber leader claimed that the bill has two major flaws, in particular, a release from the Illinois Chamber said.
One being the termination of the managed care program in Medicaid, which could result in a deterioration in the quality of health care given to recipients, the release said.
"This would buck a nationwide trend of states moving toward managed care for Medicaid recipients, which has saved American taxpayers billions of dollars and promoted better outcomes for patients. Moving everyone into a fee of service risks the gains Illinois has made in providing quality and cost-effective care to Medicaid recipients," Maisch said in the release.
Another issue Maisch pointed out is that Illinois has already moved 70% of Medicaid recipients into managed care. Healthcare expenses are only second to state-funded pensions, which contribute the most to the state's debt.
"For these reasons and others, we strongly oppose HB 3840 Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act prohibition on hospital's ability to best match scarce healthcare resources with the needs of their patients," Maisch said in the release.
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