* As we’ve already discussed, statute requires that the state develop procedures to move tens of thousands of foster kids into Managed Medicaid programs in consult the Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Group, which hadn’t yet met, even though the state will begin the transitions on November 1st.

Hannah Meisel updated her readers yesterday…

With six weeks left until 17,100 children in Illinois’ foster care system and 18,800 former foster kids are slated to move into Medicaid managed care, stakeholders were finally invited to three statutorily mandated meetings last week — on two days’ notice.

Dozens of members who months ago were appointed to a working group to oversee the transition of those in foster care into Medicaid managed care finally met — mostly via phone conference — Friday morning for the first of a trio of one-hour meetings mandated by the law that set the transition into motion. The deadline for the transition is Nov. 1.

The Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Group will also meet Wednesday and have its final meeting Oct. 1, The deadline to complete the plan to transition the nearly 36,000 children and young adults into the care of Medicaid managed care organization IlliniCare is Oct. 4. […]

“I think they’re very much following the letter of the law, not the spirit of the law,” [Illinois Collaboration on Youth CEO Andrea Durbin] said of the three meetings. “A one-hour meeting on a topic of this magnitude is not enough to provide meaningful input.” […]

Friday’s meeting lasted approximately 80 minutes, including 20 minutes of introductions, and staff informing group members that they must complete Open Meetings Act, Ethics Act and sexual harassment training becausethe working group is a public body. DCFS Deputy Director Debra Dyers-Webster thanked group members for “rearranging your schedules” to make the call.

Yeah, that was so on the up and up. Right.

* Hannah’s report today…

Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday he is “monitoring” efforts to transfer 17,100 foster children and 18,800 former youth in care from traditional Medicaid to Medicaid managed care, but didn’t commit to delaying the change. […]

After the Sept. 10 DCFS hearing held by the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee and the Appropriations – Human Services Committee, the chairwomen of those committees said they would send a letter to Pritzker to ask for a delay.

State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) told The Daily Line on Monday that she and State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) are planning to meet with DCFS officials on Thursday and make a final decision on whether to officially seek a delay afterward.

“They were reminded that they had an advisory group that they completely ignored and they’re hustling the meetings,” Feigenholtz said of DCFS’ sudden call for meetings of the Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Group. “They should probably be a little more sensitive and empathetic to the concerns we have and not dismissive. We’re talking about a pretty serious transition.” […]

Cook County Public Guardian Charles Golbert told The Daily Line Monday he’d rather see a pilot program instead of rolling out IlliniCare for the approximately 36,000 foster children and former foster children.

Governors own. And this governor will own this rollout if it is botched.