Written by Trotter Staff Thursday, 06 January 2011 09:17
SPRINGFIELD, IL – After three special committee hearings and several weeks-worth of testimony, Illinois State Senator Donne E. Trotter (D – Chicago) helped advance a landmark Medicaid reform measure through the Senate last night. The reforms are intended to improve efficiency and care, fight fraud and abuse, and cut costs.
House Bill 5420, which won with overwhelming bipartisan support, makes a number of reforms to the current Medicaid system including strengthening eligibility verification procedures and enabling the state to take civil action against perpetrators of Medicaid fraud. "As a member of the special committee on Medicaid reform, I was able to hear a number of viewpoints from state agencies as well as individuals affected by the Medicaid program," Trotter said. "This historic legislation includes a number of reforms that will improve the quality of care for residents in our state while cutting costs at the same time." The measure also takes steps to move more long-term care patients to community and home settings and increases coordinated care for Medicaid patients. This will ensure that more patients have medical homes and access to primary care physicians. It is estimated that institutional care is three times as expensive as community care. In total, the reforms are expected to save more than $770 million over five years, including $65.3 million for the Fiscal Year 2012. "This is a good step in the right direction to find savings in our state," Trotter added. "I urge the House to take quick action on this bill so we can continue to move our state forward." The bill now moves to the House of Representatives where it awaits a vote.
Illinois State Senator Donne E. Trotter pushes reforms to improve health care efficiency and cut costs by addressing fraud and abuse
Senator Trotter Menu
17th District
Majority Caucus Chair
Years served: 1988 - 1993 (House); 1993 - Present (Senate)
Committee assignments: Committee of the Whole; Appropriations I (Chairperson); Appropriations II; Pensions and Investments; Energy; Deficit Reduction (Co-Chairperson); Subcommittee on Pension Reform.
Biography: Senior hospital administrator; born Jan. 30, 1950, in Cairo; B.A., Chicago State University; M.J., Loyola University School of Law; married (wife, Rose), has four children.