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It just doesn’t pay to side with the governor

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Illinois

* Earlier this week, I told you that the House and Senate Republican complaints about the pace of implementing a Medicaid reform were off base, as were their insinuations that the “delay” (which wasn’t really a delay) in implementation was somehow political. Gov. Pat Quinn jumped on the issue yesterday…

“Well that’s complete baloney and she knows it and the Republicans know it,” Quinn said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont). “We are carrying out the Medicaid reforms with dispatch. We are going at full speed.”

Quinn wants the state to keep a closer eye on Medicaid to ensure the program is used only by people who meet eligibility requirements. “We don’t want anyone on the rolls that isn’t qualified or eligible for the Medicaid program, but in order to carry this out you have to properly follow the contract rules, procurement rules of Illinois [and] make sure the people are well trained so they do their job right,” Quinn said.

The state has hired a company to conduct the reviews, but that company needs three months of preparation before it starts.

Republican leaders have said that Quinn is taking too long and they want eligibility reviews to start in two weeks, but Quinn says they are just pushing for a political showdown. “This is all politics. We’re about seven weeks away from the election. That’s what they’re doing, it’s all politics. They know full well that Pat Quinn, the governor of Illinois, is ferreting out fraud [and] waste anywhere he sees it in state government.”

Don’t you just love it when politicians refer to themselves in the third person? And why does he still think that he has to identify himself as the governor?

Anyway, he’s right about the GOP attack. But his response left me feeling like I wish I hadn’t sided with him.

* Raw audio…

Click to download

* Other stuff…

* Chuck Sweeny: Candidates, mental health pros should talk: If Bruscato was talking about the “old” Singer, with its 200-bed capacity, I’d agree with him. But the state has reduced Singer to a shadow of its former self. It has only around 40 beds to serve 23 counties, leaving not much room for Winnebago. Now, many in the local mental health community say it makes sense to move on to a community-based model that features nonprofits getting money from the state and raising their own funds as well.

* DCFS workers protest planned layoffs: Letreurna Packer, a DCFS intact supervisor, said she oversaw the case of a mother struggling with substance abuse and mental illness who has 10 children, including a 1-month-old. The family was displaced because of a fire in their home, Packer said. Under the new rules, the mother is ineligible for the program. Packer said they need to be heard. “A baby shouldn’t have to die for the system to change its protocol to give services to intact families,” she said.

* Rutherford Calls on Governor Quinn To Cease Prison Closure Plan

* Ill. senator to Quinn: Drop prison closure plan

* Pat Quinn orders Illinois agencies to share more data online

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 3:28 am

Comments

As I pointed out earlier this week, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about.

I’m 99% certain that Health and Family Services can order any health provider to return payments for services for individuals that have been deemed ineligible. If not, that’s something that needs to be fixed.

Frankly, after a similar federal effort to root out health care fraud fell on its face, costing more to implement than it uncovered in fraud, and a similar debacle in Florida involving drug testing of public aid recipients, I’d be much more careful to ensure this thing is set up right in the first place.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 5:09 am
== And why does he still think that he has to identify himself as the governor? ==

Because he likes the sound of it…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 7:24 am
That last line by the governor “…ferreting out fraud and waste…” sure reminds me of Blago.

Comment by Stooges Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 7:58 am
It is like throwing drarts at the fair. The stupidity of the statement has so many levels it is just too fun. Why not just say, we are complying with the timeline in the law. If the republicans wanted a faster timeline, they should have pushed for one. Also, why would you say we are going as fast as we can. Look, you are in compliance, but why bring up the fact your best, is not all that great?

Saying you are fettering out fraud and waste is putting a bullseye on your back for someone to find fraud and waste you overlooked. It doesn’t matter. He is just keeping the seat warm for Rahm. Let’s face it, half of what Quinn does is to proect his insanity defense for when he is indicted.

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 8:18 am
The Sweeny article should be a wake up call to anyone running for office that the old line of “the Governor has no plan!” regarding rebalancing which was easy to pick up and wield is in fact no longer true. The plan may take some time but that is important for the safety of the people with disabilities involved. The big question everyone should be asking candidates is whether they plan to fight for revenue to fund community based services.

Comment by Quill Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 8:23 am
I think it’s important to note that child protective investigators are not prohibited from providing services to the families they investigate. In fact, the DCFS reorganization which is in progress as part of Calica’s close collaboration with the ACLU will result in a very substantial caseload reduction for investigators–as planned, caseloads will be substantially lower than the national standard. This should free up investigators, who meet the family first, to provide needed service quickly, instead of waiting for an “intact” worker to pick up the case weeks or months later. This also frees up intact workers, either private or public, to focus on more serious cases. And I doubt that the guidelines for referral are as rigid as described above.

Having said all this, I think it is important to note that this reorganization has been badly bungled by Calica and his highly paid top executives and lavishly compensated outside contractors. There are numerous reports of bungling of the layoff process, resulting in delays of planned layoffs past the original October 1 date. This costs money in a state that claims it’s broke. More importantly, perhaps, since existing intact cases are already being transferred to the private sector, what are the DCFS intact workers doing? Are we now paying double for the same intact service? Another bungle?

Calica is outsourcing in home protective services. Fine. But is it time to outsource Calica and his crew. Given the bungles to date, maybe DCFS executive management should be outsourced. This one seems to be costing us a lot of extra money.

Comment by cassandra Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 9:12 am
>They know full well that Pat Quinn, the governor of Illinois, is ferreting out fraud [and] waste anywhere he sees it in state government.”

I just choked on my oatmeal!

Comment by WazUp Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 9:36 am
–Don’t you just love it when politicians refer to themselves in the third person?–

Bob Dole doesn’t see anything wrong with it. Bob Dole thinks it’s just fine. Now Bob Dole is getting mad. You have a problem with Bob Dole? Bob Dole will come over there and kick your…..

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 9:43 am
Uh oh! Quinn’s now losing Rich Miller, the bearded guy behind Capitol Fax, who nevertheless also lays waste to ferrets and frauds.

Comment by Downstate Illinois Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 9:55 am
“And why does he still think that he has to identify himself as the governor?”

Maybe he needs all the convincing he can get and is still trying to convince himself?

Comment by sal-says Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:07 am
I try to consolidate prisons, they says no.
I try to save on mental health, they says no.
I tell them we have to cut DCFS unless they pony up more, they says no.
I tell them they need to pass pension reform, because the state is broke, they says no.
They say they want pay raises, I ask the legislature for money, they says no.
Everyone says No No No. I say, Show me the Money, or quit saying No.

Comment by Show me the Money Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:24 am
===Don’t you just love it when politicians refer to themselves in the third person?===

When Roland Burris does it, it kind of makes sense.

Comment by Way Way Down Here Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:26 am
I says, work with me.
They says we’re too busy politicking. It’s an election year, don’tcha know.

Comment by Show me the Money Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:26 am
@Downstate: “Miller…lays waste to ferrets and frauds.”

Bravo! That one will stick in my head.

Comment by walkinfool Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:30 am
@show me the money Some of us think that our tax dollars are better spent on services and safety instead of tax breaks to big corporations like the CME.

Comment by anon Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 10:57 am
Word, AA says you nailed the king of the third person abuse.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 12:44 pm
Patriot — the day Rahm runs for Governor is the day I win the Chicago Marathon.

Comment by soccermom Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 3:48 pm
* Pat Quinn orders Illinois agencies to share more data online * Oh, really? Try finding org charts on most of the larger agencys like DHS/HFS. Even the most simple information is not made public for fear that Blago Hacks and the like are found out. The Dept. of Disabilities at DHS does this a lot. Several of them are $90,000 UNFIT FOR DUTY managers or deputy directors. Give me a break. Most information will never see the “sunshine” on it! They rate the providers that the disabled are sent to, but it hasn’t been made public. It is there, but not announced. I guess with all the deaths this year (OIG and Directors fault) they thought this information is not neccessary because “we” don’t receive any services. What a joke!

Comment by Maxine on Politics Thursday, Sep 20, 12 @ 5:14 pm