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February 5, 2007 Health Care Justice ActMore than 14% of the state’s population lacks health insurance, and many residents have experienced periods of time when health benefits were not affordable, available or adequate to cover all their health care needs. Under the Health Care Justice Act, the Adequate Health Care Task Force (AHCTF) was created to develop a plan to solve the problem of the uninsured/underinsured in Illinois. The AHCTF approved its final plan (click here) on Jan. 18, 2007. NOTE: Document is large and takes time to download. At its Feb. 2 meeting, IHA's Board of Trustees voted to support the AHCTF plan that includes a series of recommendations to cover 89% of the currently uninsured population in Illinois and cost more than $5 billion. Key elements of the plan include: Medicaid and SCHIP expansions; physician/hospital payment increases under the Illinois Medicaid program; state-funded premium assistance for designated persons below 400% of the federal poverty level; individual and employer mandates; and insurance reform. The AHCTF plan is expected to spur debate in the General Assembly on the uninsured issue as well as serve as a backdrop for Governor Blagojevich's uninsured proposal that will be unveiled in early March. As required under the enabling legislation, the AHCTF held 23 public hearings in the state to solicit input from the public about access to quality, affordable health care. Initially six submitted models to achieve universal health care in Illinois were studied by consultants hired by the AHCTF. This included a model developed by the IHA which embodied specific principles and one developed by AHCTF consultants – the initial hybrid – which combined several elements from the five proposals, along with innovations the consultants chose from other state approaches to address the uninsured. At its August, 2006 meeting, the task force did not endorse any one proposal, but agreed to work through the initial hybrid as a change agent. In late September a second hybrid emerged from the consultants. The plan consists of: (1) Medicaid and S-CHIP expansions; (2) state funded premium assistance for designated persons below 400% FPL; (3) a new state administrative body to oversee aspects of the new program including premium assistance and provision of information; (4) insurance reform for the individual and small group markets. In addition, the hybrid includes individual and employer mandates. Of import to the IHA is that in December, 2006, the AHCTF considered that there are two options within the full program from which to choose for those not in the public program expansions proposed. IHA endorses the first option, which provides a "standard comprehensive plan" for small groups and individuals with commercial rates paid to providers via commercial networks, as opposed to a second option, under which the State would offer a self-insured health plan that includes a full range of services at slightly increased Medicaid rates to providers via the current Medicaid network. Also, of import to IHA are increasing Medicaid rates paid to providers, appropriate subsidies to assist the poor, reasonable out of pocket expenses so as not to exacerbate the underinsured population, basic medical coverage for all, timely reimbursement under Medicaid, access to care without extensive travel, and reform of insurance company practices regarding continuity of health care services. The Health Care Justice Act (Public Act 093-0973) Expanding Coverage for the Illinois Uninsured: A Proposal by the Illinois Hospital Association IHA's Statement to the Adequate Health Care Task Force IHA's Guiding Principles for Universal Health Care Access and Coverage (from IHA's "A Healthy Future for Illinois") Health Care Justice Act Web Site Staff Contact: Elena Butkus: (630) 276-5526 or Kathleen Dunn: (217) 541-1153 |