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Governor Quinn Signed Medicaid Reform Bill

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

January 25, 2011
Dear Neighbors,

 

    

Today:  Governor Quinn Signed Medicaid Reform Bill

 

Today the Governor signed the bi-partisan comprehensive Medicaid reform bill that was negotiated by me and Senator Dale Righter (R, Matoon), my co-chair of the Senate’s Special Committee on Medicaid Reform. This new law will both improve health outcomes for the 2.8 million Medicaid recipients in Illinois and reduce costs for the State. Since Medicaid accounts for one-third of the State’s General Revenue Fund budget, bringing these costs under control is critical to addressing our State’s fiscal crisis. Elements of this bill include:

  

· Expanding coordinated care programs to cover 50% of Medicaid recipients within 4 years (currently only 150,000 of the 2.8 million people on Medicaid are in managed care programs);

· Tightening the integrity of the eligibility process and increasing civil penalties for recipients who abuse the system to control fraud and abuse;

· Reducing costs of prescription drugs by maximizing co-payments, reducing payments to pharmacies, an requiring pre-authorization of certain drug classes;

· Creating a long-term care budget that will promote moving patients out of large institutions into home and community based settings;

· Establishing an income limit for enrollees of All Kids to 300% of the federal poverty level; and

· Phasing out the practice of allowing unpaid bills from one budget year to be paid out of the following budget year’s appropriation.

 

 

You can read the entire bill here for further details.

 

 

 

 SIGNING OF THE ILLINOIS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROTECTION AND CIVIL UNION ACT (SB1716)

  

 

It was truly an honor to be a part of passing the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (SB1716). With this law, Illinois joins the handful of U.S. states that have expanded recognition and rights to all families.  I encourage you to attend the signing of this historic legislation. 

 

WHEN:  January 31, 2011 @ 4pm

 

  

 WHERE:  Chicago Cultural Center

78 East Washington Street

  Chicago, Illinois  60601

  

  

ADDITIONAL:  Members of the public are invited to witness this historic occasion. As space is limited, RSVP’s to gov.civilunionsrsvp@illinois.gov are encouraged. Guests without an RSVP will be seated as space is available.

 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Heather Steans

State Senator-7th District

 

 

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Posted in Healthcare, Human Rights, Newsletter


Historic Step for Equality

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

December 3, 2010
 
 

Dear Neighbor,

 

There was overwhelming warmth under the Capitol Dome this week as people broke into cheers and tears of emotion after we passed the Civil Unions legislation, taking a historic step toward providing fundamental human rights to our LGBT friends, family, neighbors and colleagues.  Literally, thousands of people advocated to provide equal protection under the law to same sex couples to achieve this remarkable moment.  The privilege of being a part of our march for justice is transformative.  I am honored and humbled by the passion, dedication and hard work of so many people that is making Illinois a better place to live.

 

Once signed by the Governor (and he is a stalwart supporter of this Bill), the Civil Unions legislation will become effective June 1, 2011.  Both same sex and opposite sex couples ages 18 and over will be eligible for the same rights and responsibilities of married couples under state law.  The many protections that will now be provided include:

  • Making medical decisions as a spouse would;
  • Being able to visit partners in a hospital when visitation is limited to family;
  • Sharing nursing home rooms;
  • Receiving employer-based health insurance that provides spousal coverage and sharing in pensions;
  • Accessing inheritance in the same manner a spouse would;
  •  Filing suit over a partner’s wrongful death; and
  • Declining to testify against one’s partner.

You can read the bill here, and I will let you know when the Governor has set a time and location to sign the bill.

 

While Civil Unions rightly dominated Springfield this week, the Senate took action on other significant bills as well, including:

 

  • Fire/Police Pensions.  Similar to legislation passed last Spring for other pension systems, this bill creates a two tier system for police and fire fighters by reducing benefits for future hires and requires cities to have the systems 90% funded by 2041.  This bill is now sent to the Governor for signing.  Read SB3538 here.
  • Gaming Expansion.  This bill adds gaming positions at racetracks and establishes five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago.  The bill narrowly passed the Senate and will now be taken up in the House.  Likely more work will be done in the House and it will have to return to the Senate and gain support from the Governor.  Read SB737 here.
  • Redistricting Reform.  This bipartisan bill provides greater protection for minority rights and establishes public hearing requirements to make redistricting more transparent.  Read SB3976 here.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions about these or other bills in Springfield.

 

Best,

 

Heather A. Steans

State Senator

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Posted in Human Rights, Legislation


Read my 2010 priorities.

Monday, January 11th, 2010
January 11, 2010
 
Dear Neighbor: Tomorrow we head back to Springfield for the start of this year’s legislative session.   The overwhelming issue we must address is balancing the State’s budget.  Our unfunded pension liabilities are $80 billion, our backlog of unpaid bills is over $5 billion, and the projected deficit for next fiscal year is over $12 billion, close to 50% of our $26 billion general revenue fund budget.  Among the 50 states, only California is in worse shape. I will continue to fight for good public policy over politics in the budget negotiations.  We must make difficult decisions to reduce the state’s expenditures and identify new, progressive revenues to restore fiscal integrity.  The financial gimmicks and borrowing must stop. Additional legislative priorities for me this year are:

  • Closing the campaign finance loophole.  I have a bill that will limit what leaders can give to candidates in the general elections as well as in primary elections.
  • Equal marriage.  I have begun meetings with advocacy groups to develop a comprehensive strategy to add Illinois to the list of states that do not discriminate against LGBT couples regarding marriage.  
  • Nursing home improvements.  I am working with the ACLU and numerous nonprofit advocacy groups to get a comprehensive set of reforms that will improve care for our elderly and mentally ill residents in nursing homes.

I will continue to provide updates throughout the legislative session.  Please contact me at 773-769-1717 or at hsteans@senatedem.ilga.gov with any questions or comments.  I value your feedback. Best regards, Heather Steans State Senator

Posted in Human Rights, Legislation, Nursing Homes

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