"Once again, the Governor’s Office and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services are sharing very little information," said Senator Frerichs. "I’m still not convinced there are any real savings to be gained from ending our contract with Health Alliance, and my concern that members in East-Central Illinois will either lose access to their doctors or be forced to pay more was not addressed. I certainly won’t be approving the new contracts until I get some answers."

Senator Frerichs is the only legislator from East-Central Illinois to sit on the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA), the body which must advise and consent on the State’s new group health insurance contracts.

On hand at the briefing to answer legislators’ questions were Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos, Michael Gelder, Senior Advisor to Governor Pat Quinn, and other representatives of the Governor’s Office. Because Health Alliance has filed a formal protest currently under review with the Protest Review Board, the Governor’s representatives’ ability to answer questions was limited.

"I fully support Health Alliance’s protest of this decision, and hope the protest process sheds some light on the disastrous impact this decision could have on downstate Illinois," said Senator Frerichs.

In response to last week’s news, Senator Frerichs wrote a letter to Governor Quinn and Director Hamos urging them to reconsider the decision to end the State’s contract with Health Alliance. The Senator also launched a petition where people can show their support for a continued contract with Health Alliance. Both can be found at www.mikefrerichs.com.