Written by Steans Staff Thursday, 31 May 2012 14:52
Springfield, IL— State Senator Heather Steans (D-7th), following up on comprehensive Medicaid reform legislation passed last week, secured unanimous passage of a measure that will force the state to start paying its Medicaid bills on time. Senate Bill 3397 will rein in the practice, which has left many health care providers waiting more than six months for reimbursement, of paying one year’s bills using the next year’s funds.
“Underappropriating Medicaid – that is providing less spending authority for Medicaid than what the program costs – was a major factor contributing to the Medicaid fiscal crisis that has necessitated deep cuts to protect patients’ access to services,” said Steans, who also sponsored Senate Bill 2840, a comprehensive package of program reductions, provider rate cuts, and eligibility verification measures. “In order to avoid another shortfall of this magnitude, we must cut up the state’s Medicaid ‘credit card’ now, and we must keep our promises to providers and clients in the future.”
Read more: Steans’ Legislation Limits Medicaid Payment Delays




