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Archive for November, 2009
Recent reports on Illinois’ fiscal condition
Friday, November 13th, 2009Nursing homes and the mentally ill: State Senate will hold hearing on improving safety
Friday, November 6th, 2009Read the Chicago Tribune story on the Senate Public Health and Human Services Committees joint nursing home hearing.
By David Jackson and Gary Marx Tribune reporters
November 5, 2009
State senators will hold a hearing Thursday in Chicago to examine ways to improve safety at nursing homes, where a high number of felons with mental illness has led to reports of assaults, rape and even murder.
Legislators will hear testimony from experts, government officials and the public in considering “what laws we can strengthen and what laws we can enforce better,” as well as more sweeping measures that could reverse Illinois’ reliance on nursing homes to house younger adults with mental illness and criminal records, said Ron Holmes, a spokesman for the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Holmes added that state lawmakers “are definitely trying to work together as much as we can” with Gov. Pat Quinn’s newly formed Nursing Home Safety Task Force. Holmes said he expects legislation to flow from the collaboration.
“There will be bills out there,” he said.
One scheduled participant, Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, noted that her North Side district has among the highest concentrations of mentally ill nursing-home residents in the state.
“The observations and comments I have received from constituents are alarming,” Steans wrote in an e-mail this week encouraging constituents to attend the hearing. “I am concerned that our current mental health system is not always providing quality treatment for the mentally ill and creates safety hazards for both patients and our community.”
The joint Senate human services and public health committees hearing will begin at 11 a.m. at the Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St. The event was prompted by a Tribune series that exposed the dangerous mix of elderly residents and mentally ill felons in nursing facilities.
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Senator Heather Steans Passes Key Health Insurance Reform Legislation
Friday, November 6th, 2009Picture: Heather Steans with Representative Greg Harris and Emily Miller from PIRG hold a press conference on the health insurance reform bill.
Springfield, IL – Today a measure that promotes health insurance fairness sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans (D-7th Chicago) and Representative Greg Harris (D-13th Chicago) moves to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
The Individual Health Insurance Fairness Act (House Bill 3923), establishes an independent review process for carriers who have denied claims and makes it easier for small businesses to apply for health insurance by creating a standard application for all insurance companies. In addition, this measure requires insurance companies to place more information online so consumers can see how their premium dollars are spent.
“This new legislation provides far better protection for people who have private health insurance and also improves the access and quality of health care in Illinois,” Steans said. “It also ensures that Illinoisans are better protected from unfair and inconsistent health insurance industry practices.”
According to a report by AARP, which is also a strong proponent of this legislation, in the private market, an average annual premium for a family of four has risen to nearly $5,500, while an individual premium costs $2,500 in Illinois. A recent AARP study found that adults aged 50-64 spend roughly 10% of their income on health coverage, and pay three times as much as their peers with employer-sponsored coverage.
“With more and more Illinois citizens losing their employer based health insurance, they must turn to the private industry; however, many times these unfair practices make it even harder for people to get the care they need,” Steans said. “This is about fairness and making sure that all Illinoisans who have to purchase private insurance plans have easier access and the quality health care they need.”
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