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Cash-strapped Illinois needs to provide in-home nursing care to more than 1,200 children with disabilities and severe medical conditions, a federal judge ordered Wednesday, responding to a lawsuit alleging the state has failed to fulfill its Medicaid obligations. […]

The plaintiffs’ lawyers said the state plans to appeal the decision and ask that the order be stayed until the lawsuit is resolved. […]

Jane Perkins, another plaintiffs’ attorney, said some of the children are currently being treated in hospital intensive care units instead of having a nurse at their home. She said that’s problematic because children who are “medically fragile” are prone to contracting hospital-borne diseases.

Wait… They’re keeping some of those kids in ICUs instead of in home nursing care? Yeah, that’s cost effective.

Sheesh. Good luck with your appeal!

Not.

* Meanwhile, remember when the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy president wrote that his school owes millions to its vendors, but that he was still confident in the future?…

Is IMSA still viable for the remainder of this year and into next year and into future years? My answer is “yes.” Why do I say this? I believe that IMSA is too important to too many people. We’re too important to Illinois and the world to “fail.” While we’re not “too big to fail,” we’re “too important to too many people to fail.”

* Well…

Officials in Aurora and elsewhere are raising concerns about how the ongoing state budget war might affect the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, a high school that draws students from across Illinois.

“How are we going to keep getting good teachers to come here and teach?” state Sen. Linda Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, said. […]

Illinois Board of Higher Education Executive Director James Applegate this week praised officials at IMSA for keeping the doors open and making things work, but he made the comments as part of a push to get lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner to finish up their long-delayed work.

“They are in extremely dire straits right now,” Applegate said.

* Related…

* Tribune editorial: Is Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner anti-union? Or pro-taxpayer?

* Illinois State researchers say university adds $554M to economy

* Union not talking about full strike at UI — yet: A walkout by nontenure-track faculty at the University of Illinois could come within 10 days, but it will likely be short.

* Union leaders seek Republican support for arbitration bill

* State, city study new pension solutions after Supreme Court slap

* Emanuel determined to craft new pension deal after court ruling

* Illinois could gain $60 billion by narrowing gender gap, McKinsey report finds

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 1:39 pm

Comments

=== Is Bruce Rauner anti-union? Or pro-taxpayer? ===

This is the typical case of the old saw that with friends like this you don’t need enemies.

Since the Rauner impasse is hurting taxpayers throughout the state, the answer would be that he’s pro taxpayers who are 1 percenters.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 1:52 pm
Just think how much those 1,200 children with disabilities and severe medical conditions will benefit after Bruce gets his “pro-business reforms.”

Don’t worry, kids, your “short-term pain” is worth it.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 1:53 pm
IMSA will not make it through.

I’m sorry.

IMSA will be a casualty. That’s as honest and real as I can be.

The school itself, it’s faculty and students are singularly looking for options outside returning next year to doors open.

It’s nausiating that sonething so unique and special that Illinois provided to nurture STEM will fall victim to…

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15

Thank you, Ron Sandack, for making sure that short term budget pain shuts down IMSA… Well played.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 1:58 pm
‘We had to destroy the state to save it from (the other guy).’
How do either of them, Madigan or Rauner, sleep at night? They are both wealthy, so they must not be affected by the same trivial concerns as us common folk.

Comment by No Use For A Name Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 1:58 pm
Does McQueary ever tire of writing the same editorial over and over?

Comment by TominChicago Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:01 pm
To the ISU article. When ISU closes so do the $5 franchise pizza/sandwich places. That’s some job creation Bruce! I’m sure it’s nice small talk at the wine and cheese parties in Winnetkastan this weekend.

Comment by Jack Stephens Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:02 pm
No Use for a Name - this is not the type of issue that you can claim equivalency. One side wants a budget and the other doesn’t unless he gets concessions. There is a reason this has been described as blackmail and or hostage taking. Except in this case, the person holding everything hostage has only offered the privilege of being held responsible for tax increases the person holding hostage needs.

There’s NO reason to cave into ludicrous demands.

Comment by Delimma Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:04 pm
While these children are locked up in ICUs, they’re losing their education as well. Their nurses also accompany them to school in many cases.

Comment by Wensicia Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:07 pm
Gotta love the fact that the Trib comments section is now sane and calls their editorial page what it is.

Comment by Me too Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:09 pm
My hope is Bruce Rauner will clout all the IMSA kids into Payton Prep, if IT survives…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:11 pm
===My hope is Bruce Rauner will clout all the IMSA kids into Payton Prep, if IT survives…===

Of course, that would deny worthy Chicago residing students an opportunity, so maybe just funding Higher Ed, Governor Rauner, might solve some things?

@RonSandack: I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL more important than short term budget stalemate. - Ron Sandack, 9/28/15

We’ll see…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:13 pm
“Does McQueary ever tire of writing the same editorial over and over?”

Can you imagine? Time after time — cranking-out tiny variations on the same tired, narrow theme. Kinda like writing copy for valentine cards.

In fact, it’s almost exactly like writing copy for valentine cards.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:14 pm
Since when is anyone worried about getting good teachers to come to a school? Oh wait—-they’re wanting good teachers at bargain store rates with hopefully no pension and once their kids are through with the school, they can shut it down.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:16 pm
What’s a bit? Him being a republican or you saying they are all responsible as if that’s neutral? We know what side of the game your on. FYI, Illinois republicans used to be my kind of folk. They were the moderate party. They supported unions and unions supported them. I am quite certain that OW is an Illinois republican who has been abandoned by his party.

Comment by Me too Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:24 pm
How much would an ICU care at a hospital cost for one month -vs- how much would an ICU type nursing home care cost for one month? Both are very expensive.

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:28 pm
” Is Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner anti-union? Or pro-taxpayer?”

Neither - - he is pro-Rauner!

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:30 pm
Sorry, I didn’t see the link here before I posted on another thread.

FWIW, the Tribbies have a wild race-card edit today regarding an old police shooting in Rockford that apparently has something-something to do with Rauner’s efforts to restrict collective bargaining at the local level.

Below are links to the edit, and a R-R Star story that is chock-fulla-facts that the edit curiously chooses to omit. Plenty more facts on the google that the Tribbies deemed unworthy, too.

But if you believe the edit, apparently the Illinois State Police and other independent investigators, who ruled the shooting justified, and the Winnebago County State’s attorney and a grand jury who declined to prosecute, and a Winnebago county judge who declined to overrule an arbitrator’s decision, are all in the tank for unions so white cops can murder black people.

That’s the fault of of black and suburban Dems, but Gov. Rauner’s union-busting agenda will change that.

Dishonest and demented.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-rauner-madigan-cullerton-unions-turnaround-edit-0410-jm-20160408-story.html

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20131116/NEWS/131119481

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
To the ICU…

What a fiasco. I dunno if they’re showing the right “recourses” that are needed to seem in touch.

(Tips cap to - Me Too -)

- Mama -, that’s as real as it gets…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:32 pm
==”While we’re not “too big to fail,” we’re “too important to too many people to fail.”==

I hope all those people who think you are too important to fail can have a large fundraiser to keep your doors open.

Comment by Mama Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:34 pm
==Is Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner anti-union? Or Tribune editorial pro-taxpayer?== “Rauner wants cities to be able to exclude certain topics from collective bargaining, including pay and benefits.”

I get so tire of hearing this nonsensical explanation. The collective bargaining contract provisions on pay, benefits, and (more relevant to the story on Rockford’s inability to fire a police officer) grievance procedures and employee rights are not something that Moses brought down from the mountain or that Madigan and the convention he controlled snuck into the Illinois constitution right next to the pension clause. They are things that were bargained for. Why does anyone think that a local government that cannot negotiate taxpayer-friendly provisions in its union contracts is somehow going to find the backbone to opt not to bargain about these things at all? The law has to ban contracting on these matters, which is not empowering anyone or even saving tax dollars. Get rid of the unions requiring some measure of pay equity, and the bosses’ favorites will be pulling down salaries like the Governor’s superstars.

Comment by Whatever Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:35 pm
== I am quite certain that OW is an Illinois republican who has been abandoned by his party. ==

Not just OW …

Comment by RNUG Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:40 pm
–Wait… They’re keeping some of those kids in ICUs instead of in home nursing care? Yeah, that’s cost effective.–

Things that make your blood pressure go through the roof…

That’s just not rational on any level.

To have the state stonewall these families and then pay lawyers to yammer a bunch of concussed-gibberish defending this practice in front of a federal judge is flat-out nuts.

(many bad words, all in a row)

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:42 pm
What would a union bargain over if not pay and benefits? Who gets the desk by the window?

Everyone is free to refuse to bargain over these things. The guv has refused to bargain for pay increases to keep up with the cost of living. He’s gone even further in attempting to bargain for bargain basement health insurance for the same cost, or double the cost to keep current coverage. It is funny, but his bill also states that pensions can’t be bargained for except at the discretion of the employer. It is already settled law that pensions can’t be bargained for period. The State can choose to increase benefits for all, but that can’t be a carrot used in return for pay cuts or lack of raises. At least it can’t be directly linked.

Comment by Me too Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:45 pm
=== How do either of them, Madigan or Rauner, sleep at night? ===

I imagine Madigan sleeps at night because he didn’t create this mess, he’s negotiated budgets with Republican governors before, in consultation with the other three legislative leaders, and he can do it again whenever Rauner drops his extremist ideological crusade. Rauner? You’d have to ask him. I think I know what he’d say, but it has no basis in reality.

Comment by olddog Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:46 pm
===And because only a few construction firms can afford to pay workers those higher wages, prevailing wage laws keep smaller and minority-owed businesses from getting the contracts.===

That sentence, and the entire paragraph that follows it, demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of basic business economics. I’m not sure how the Tribune can argue for reform of something they don’t fully understand.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:48 pm
Also, whatever, how do you bargain to bargain for pay when you are prohibited by law from bargaining for pay?

Oh never mind, the administration’s logic must be flawless as usual. I’ll take their word that their talking points are sound.

Comment by Me too Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm
Even if Madigan got a supermajority in 2017 why would they override a tax increase veto by Rauner? We had a tax increase in place. Kicking the can down the road doesn’t look to bad compared to this disaster we are in now.

Comment by Magic carpet ride Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:49 pm
- RNUG -

I know I’m not alone, bud. I hear you.

That’s what keeps me optimistic that somewhere, sometime, this might get better.

I hope…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 2:50 pm
The state isn’t paying any of its Medicaid bills? For 10 months?

Or is the issue here that Medicaid doesn/t reimburse enough to attract enough nurses to take care of the kids. The latter issue is probably not confined to llinois. And it reminds us that a single-payer national system would be best for all, paid by through higher federal taxes. But I don’t think Bernie is going to win. The country will have to wait a few more decades, but a national single payer system will come eventually. It’s the only one that makes sense, for these kids, and for all citizens.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 3:21 pm
Cassandra- some Medicaid payments to providers are 2-3 years behind.

To the post-

This was an April Fools article in Smile Politely, but they may have been on track;(

http://www.smilepolitely.com/culture/governor_rauner_revitalizes_c_u_economy_by_permanently_closing_the_u_of_i/

Comment by Anon221 Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 3:45 pm
What I surmise has happened with medically complex children ending up in ICU’s instead of at home with in home nursing are a couple of things. What had been going on previously as a cost cutting measure for Medicaid- was to reduce the number of Nursing hours in the home based on what I call factors of irrelevance that also lead to dangerous care situations that nursing agencies did/do not want to be held liable for. For example: we had a foster/adoptive family who had two very high end medical children who each had their own nurse. There were two adult parents in the home (one worked full time) and their adult daughter (also a nurse who lived next door). Medicaid one day decided that they would only pay for one nurse to be shared by both children but only for one 12 hour shift instead of the two 8 hour shifts because they now determined that was too expensive. So our agency, DCFS, and the parents had to decide with the nursing agency how this was going to work. The nursing agency wanted to pull out because of the huge liability this placed on the agency and the nurses. For some reason, Medicaid also thought it feasible for the family to figure out how to have the two children(boy and girl) share a room- which due to their ages was against DCFS licensing rules( which I explained to them and their response was priceless). Their rooms were each filled with medical equipment and special beds.
Last years budget had zeroed out many of supportive services that would have kept children in the home with nursing services instead of having to be placed in more expensive hospital or nursing home care. This was discussed last year when that budget was released that this could/would be a consequence of this. And here we are.

Comment by carbaby Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 3:49 pm
The governor only runs this state if a court makes him, then punishes the Bar for its insolence.

Has he ever met a man he likes outside a mirror?

Comment by crazybleedingheart Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 4:00 pm
OW…RNUG…I too am in the land of the lost still trying to keep my head from exploding, it must be global weirding or something…

Comment by Captain Illini Friday, Apr 8, 16 @ 4:38 pm