* This is just ducky…
The Blagojevich administration has stopped payment on most state-subsidized health care, asking a judge to clarify his order to shut down an illegal expansion of the FamilyCare program.
Court documents indicate state reimbursement to doctors treating more than 500,000 FamilyCare patients stopped Oct. 15, the day Cook County Circuit Judge James R. Epstein ordered the administration to halt an expansion of the program to people with higher incomes. […]
Although rejected repeatedly by the Legislature, Gov. Rod Blagojevich unilaterally reinstated the coverage and expanded it to 400 percent of the poverty level, or $83,000 for four. Participants are supposed to pay premiums on a sliding scale. […]
Two prominent businessmen and a lawyer sued, and after an appellate court upheld Epstein’s April ruling, the judge ordered the administration Oct. 15 to submit its plan for dismantling the program.
In it, the administration says Epstein’s order could be construed to cover nearly all 537,000 participants in FamilyCare, except those receiving welfare cash assistance. So it stopped submitting vouchers it receives from health care providers to the state comptroller for reimbursement.
In other words, the judge told the administration to stop funding the illegal aspect of the Family Care program, so the administration stopped funding everything.
Either they are so incompetent that they can’t tell the difference between the illegal program and the legal program, or they are deliberately creating a crisis of huge proportions. Or both.
Whatever the case, this could turn out to be a freaking disaster for thousands of innocent people caught in this power grab.
* Meanwhile…
State lawmakers might take up a bill this week that gives autistic children up to $36,000 a year in health care coverage to pay for diagnosis and treatment.
But there’s no guarantee the bill will pass, lawmakers and advocates say.
“I think it’s possible but I don’t think it’s likely,” said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline. “I think we’re going to see a lot of slow, measured movement.”
The reason it’s not likely to pass is that the House Speaker refuses to allow the governor to create implementation rules because the governor believes that the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules has no legal oversight authority, even though the governor himself signed a law giving JCAR more teeth. The Senate is sticking with the governor so far, and Speaker Madigan won’t budge from his position.
* And Mike Lawrence vents…
In addition to what he said is Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s abuse of the state constitution, Lawrence took to task Speaker of the House Michael Madigan for maintaining “animosity” toward the governor, a fellow Democrat, as well as a continued “distrust” of House Minority Leader Tom Cross.
I generally agree. Madigan has always found a way to deal with everyone else and keep the state moving forward except when it comes to Rod Blagojevich. But if the governor won’t follow the constitution, can’t be trusted to hold up his end of any deal and may be supremely incompetent (see top story), then why should anyone not have “animosity” towards him?
Discuss.
* Somewhat related…
* Scandal city: Merriner’s latest book is the just-published The Man Who Emptied Death Row: Governor George Ryan and the Politics of Crime. And though there’s lots about insider shenanigans in the book — Ryan remains in prison today, convicted of political corruption — Merriner understood there was more to the former Illinois governor’s story.
* Former Ryan prosecutors reunited
* SJ-R Opinion: FOIA needs reform — now: How many stories have to be written about Illinois’ broken Freedom of Information Act before Attorney General Lisa Madigan proposes an overhaul?
- Pat collins - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:36 am:
A large provider in Lake may go under, PERMANENTLY reducing care to the poor.
Talking points, vs. reality. Looks like a good chance for one of the would be Senate Leaders to LEAD, perhaps?
Or just more bluster.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:41 am:
==They reject the administration’s refusal to reimburse any premiums it has collected and say the government has made no attempt to notify any participants or medical providers that the program is ending.==
So are they still collecting premiums?
Besides being a handy way to save some money by not paying anyone I would put my money on the incompetence argument.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:44 am:
Well, Blagojevich aside, it doesn’t speak too well for our mostly fat cat legislators, who benefit from a cheap and very comprehensive state health insurance program that all taxpayers are forced to
finance in Illinois, that they can’t find the moneyto fund Family Care. Guess it might interfere with massive patronage hiring, grants to the favored, overpriced state contracts to campaign contributors, and other ways our legislators enhance their personal financial “situations.”
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:47 am:
I have my serious disagreements with the Governor, and I know it’s easy (and fun) to pick on him and throw around rhetoric.
However, we’ve got willful and wanton violations of the constitution that are imperiling the health of some the state’s most at-risk citizens, financially hurting health care providers, and potentially putting the state on the hook for millions of illegally spent dollars during a budget crisis (to say nothing of the legal bills).
All joking and posturing aside, can anyone make a case for why the Governor should not be impeached and removed from office at this point?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:49 am:
Blago is a different breed of cat, as Rich described.
Edgar and Lawrence certainly had some Battle Royales with Madigan, but I think there was a level of trust between the two sides so deals could eventually be reached. Furthermore, I think in the recent past there was a basic understanding and commitment to the responsibilities of day-to-day government that is lacking in the current executive.
- pro - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:49 am:
Based on the fact that all familycare expansions since 1998 were done by rule, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that the judges order could apply to all expansions since then (leaving just the medicaid).
I have a feeling the gov has been looking at every way, legally and illegally, to continue the program if he could.
- Heartless Libertarian - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:50 am:
“Whatever the case, this could turn out to be a freaking disaster for thousands of innocent people caught in this power grab.”
Welcome to the governor. Some leaders end up hurting people by accident. This governor delights at the suffering of others, thinking it will drive the legislature to do exactly what he wants.
- Fan of the Game - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:02 am:
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again–”Crisis” = more government
And Gov. Blagojevich is the “King” of crisis. Thank you. Thank you very much.
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:04 am:
The long term effects of this are not good. If the payments for services provided in good faith are stopped, why would any provider sign up to be a provider for any future proposed state plan unless there is absolute proof the dollars will follow. Add on the announced projected $800M revenue shortfall which implies further payment delays. Stopped payments and very delayed payments can only dramatically shrink the provider base. If no margin = no mission why be part of this? Well meaning words and promises do not keep the lights on or pay salaries for many groups. Patients and providers just getting wacked.
- The Doc - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:04 am:
Gotta love the irony - Blagojevich rolls out expanded FamilyCare coverage simply as a means of pandering to voters, and now potentially thousands of patients may see their coverage dropped as a result of his malfeasance.
What say you, Bill?
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:11 am:
If this is not reason enough to impeach him on grounds of gross incompetence, malfeasance, or both, I don’t know what would be.
- Dan S, a Voter and Cubs Fan - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:23 am:
Don’t Worry, Be Happy - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 9:47 am: & Secret Square - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:11 am: AMEN!!! Impeach NOW
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 10:24 am:
With state revenues tanking badly, could it be that Blago now WANTS an excuse to discontinue Family Care altogether, in a way that, he thinks, will divert blame from him? So he can at least go on claiming that he would LIKE to provide healthcare for all but that mean old judge and JCAR just won’t let him?
- Northside Bunker - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:22 am:
So what happens to my sister’s children’s medical bills?
Rod’s got to go! And sooner than later!
- BIG R.PH. - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 11:26 am:
So am I not getting paid because of the Family Care or because they don’t have any money.
Currently we are at 108 days and climbing. How am I expected to pay my vendors, expenses, salaries etc?
Illinois is dead last is responsibility for paying Medicaid obligations!
Unfortunately, health care providers are too fragmented and corporations and individual providers all have different reasons for taking a Medicaid patient
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:24 pm:
The state is also months behind in reimbursing me for travel expenses. I didn’t mind — I don’t travel much, and rationalized it as, “Oh, well, they need the money to pay health care providers, and that’s more important.”
But, to steal from Mike Royko, if they’re not paying health care, “Ubi est meum?”
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:44 pm:
If Blagojevich ran East Germany like he runs Illinois, the Stasi would still be waiting for Traubis and using their own bikes to get around.
- Oberon - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 12:51 pm:
Why did it take almost a month for anyone to notice that NO bills are being paid? Perhaps they truly cannot distinguish the unlawful enrollees from the others, but that strains the bounds of credulity. It’s much easier to believe this is some sort of stratagem to put pressure on the Court and the Legislature to see things Rod’s way. Appalling, of course, but should anyone be surprised at this point?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 1:14 pm:
So, lemme get this straight. The same administration that just a few weeks ago couldn’t say how many people were affected by the judge’s ruling now comes up with a number of 500,000? Don’t know about the rest of you, but I really have doubts about that…Kind of wish the press or the court would ask the administration to prove it.
- Cassandra - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 4:47 pm:
Didn’t a higher court judge just issue another stay on this matter. In favor of the Family Care recipients?
- Amuzing Myself - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 5:06 pm:
While the Governor’s behavior has been appalling, we all knew he was borderline-mental after the first couple of years. What’s worse in my mind is the inability or lack of backbone of the Legislature to do anything about it. Where are the statesmen railing against this on the floor of the House or Senate? Where are the statesmen screaming about what a travesty this is for “people”? Are they just worn down? That’s not a valid excuse. It’s their job to be part of the “checks and balances” of the system so this kind of crap isn’t allowed happen or fester if it does happen.
I’m so sick of legislators in Springfield and Washington just trying to keep their heads down and survive the next election cycle. What’s the point?! DO YOUR JOBS!!!!!!!!!!!
OK. End of rant. Carry on.
- Bookworm - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 6:11 pm:
Yes, Cassie, the Supreme Court did so today. Apparently they walked right into the trap HFS set. Or maybe they are just trying to buy some time to try to minimize the collateral damage from this mess.
- Emily Booth - Wednesday, Nov 12, 08 @ 6:38 pm:
When the FY 09 budget was published in 02/08, it stated that 3000 families had been signed up for the Family Care expansion since 10/07.
According to the budget, the Family Care Expansion was one of 4 components of “Illinois Covered”. The budget stated Illinois Covered was to be fully funded in FY 09 and thereafter funded by an “employer health assessment” tax. This tax was supposed to generate $417 million in FY 09 and $1 billion thereafter.
Reading the FY 09 budget was very interesting. The powers-to-be anticipated declining revenues and shortfalls and they proposed transferring the $3 billion sitting in special purpose funds. Back in February.