*** UPDATE ***  From the comptroller’s office…

According to CMS there is $613 million in loans from the Vendor Assistance Program. Of that $613 million, Blue Cross has $316 million, Health Alliance has $219 million and Coventry Health has $9.9 million for a total of $544.9 million. These numbers are already included in the backlog in with the $3.3 billion that we have for Group Insurance at CMS so it would be double counting to add them to the backlog again. If you need any more info let me know.

* Sarah Mueller discovered that the comptroller’s tabulation of backlogged state bills doesn’t include money owed via a vendor assistance program…

Documents obtained by Illinois Public Radio show that since November, the state owes businesses in the Vendor Support Initiative program more than $600 million. That doesn’t include the 1 percent interest fee applied per month to bills over 90 days old under the Prompt Payment Act.

The program allows companies to buy invoices of others who have done business with the state, and are awaiting payment. The companies pay the bills, then make a profit by collecting both the overdue money and the interest on it when the state eventually pays up. […]

A spokesman for the state agency that administers the program says the comptroller won’t have the voucher information until the bill is presented for payment. It’s unclear what vendors are being paid through this program and which have not been approved.

The governor’s office said the state is not a party to those transactions, it’s strictly between the vendor and qualified purchaser. But it said it is aware of who is participating.