Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x1 - Senate sponsor responds * Pritzker vetoes first bill, says he needs “flexibility to innovate” on healthcare

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* Senate Bill 2026 was somewhat of a delayed reaction to fears that former Gov. Bruce Rauner would apply for a federal waiver to reduce health insurance coverage, including narrowing pre-existing conditions. Legislators wanted to make sure no governor would do that in the future…

Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the ACA. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Prohibits the State from applying for any federal waiver that would permit an individual or group health insurance plan to reduce or eliminate any protection or coverage required under the ACA that was in effect on January 1, 2017, including, but not limited to, any protection for persons with pre-existing conditions and coverage for services identified as essential health benefits under the ACA. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Prohibits the State or an agency of the executive branch from applying for any federal Medicaid waiver that would result in more restrictive standards, methodologies, procedures, or other requirements than those that were in effect in Illinois as of January 1, 2017 for the Medical Assistance Program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or any other medical assistance program in Illinois operating under any existing federal waiver authorized by specified provisions of the Social Security Act. Provides that the State or an agency of the executive branch may apply for such a waiver only if granted authorization by the General Assembly through joint resolution.

The bill passed the Senate 56-0 and the House 75-41.

* Gov. Pritzker vetoed the bill today, his first. If you can’t read his veto message, click the pic for a better view…

His Medicaid buy-in idea, which he talked about a lot during the campaign, might possibly require some federal waivers.

Thoughts?

…Adding… Center Square…

State Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, voted against the bill, but had a mixed reaction to the veto message.

“Great decision by the governor, bad bill, and he’s exactly right that we have to keep that flexibility,” McSweeney said. “The place that I disagree with him is that he says he’s not going to actively seek those waivers. He should be seeking those.”

McSweeney has for years urged the state to seek waivers for ways to save taxpayers money. He said the state could file waivers with the federal government to shore up eligibility for certain programs, or to find innovative ways to capture more federal tax dollars to offset the state taxpayer cost.

“Ways that we can look at improving our access to federal funding, ways to address vouchers, ways to address tightening up eligibility, that should all be on the table,” McSweeney said. “Now I want to be clear, the governor is saying none of that.”

*** UPDATE *** GOP Sen. Sue Rezin, the chief Senate sponsor…

As I am driving to my brother’s funeral today the irony of the Governor’s first veto is not lost. My brother drove a semi truck his entire life. He was a hard worker but like many people lived paycheck to paycheck. Often times he made just enough to get by but too much to be covered by Medicaid. His entire life he struggled to access the healthcare system because of his preexisting conditions and his inability to afford health insurance. Jim did not go to the doctor when he was having symptoms because he couldn’t afford to. This bill was passed unanimously in the Senate and would have guaranteed health insurance coverage for hard working people, such as my brother, who have preexisting conditions.

Jim was 58 years old.

She was not given a heads up before the veto was announced. Bad form.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 12:25 pm

Comments

The Medicaid buy-in is exactly the reason he vetoed this bill, I believe. But if he intends to pursue that idea, he really needs to get the Medicaid program up to standard. Having previously been in the Medicaid system, I have no idea why anyone would buy-in to something that is the biggest headache in state government. And things aren’t improving, at least not yet.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 12:40 pm
Just slightly disappointing veto. I trust Gov. Pritzker on healthcare, I don’t trust the next Governor yet to be named after him.

Illinois is a fickle state that surprises sometimes, it is not unthinkable that our next Governor won’t share Gov. Pritzker’s strong ACA positions. There is plenty of time to pass a new version, plenty of time to get this right, but we should probably get this right and place some checks and balances on the executive branch regarding federal waivers and the ACA.

Comment by Kyle Hillman Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 12:40 pm
I’m curious how many vetoes there will be, and how many of those will gave override attempts this fall. Definitely not going to be like last veto session

Comment by Insert name here Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 1:14 pm
Maybe against expectations (mine being one), there will actually be a veto this year - but doubtful there will be a single override motion to consider in veto session.

Comment by anon Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 1:25 pm
Good for JB. It looks like he vetoed a very rigid bill. The ACA has a lot of things in there which are anti-consumer choice.

Comment by Steve Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 1:58 pm
awwwww man….
Why did JB have to use the “flexibility to innovate” phrase.
I’m sure a heck of a lot of his loyal state workers just pasted out reading that.

That means the workforce is about to get
shafted on health insurance

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 2:12 pm
Did J.B. give a heads up to the House sponsor?

Comment by Not It Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 3:32 pm
=== She was not given a heads up before the veto was announced. Bad form. ===

Agree. Their break-in period is near an end. Although, they should have known better. Had they touched base, they might have avoided the embarrassment of releasing the veto when the sponsor is on her way to her brother’s funeral.

Do better.

Comment by Norseman Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 3:35 pm
===She was not given a heads up before the veto was announced. Bad form.===

Dear Pritzker Crew,

I berated the Durkin Crew on not letting y’all know and talk to you about Willowbrook… and you do this to the sponsor of the first bill the governor vetoes?

Seriously?

This is not great, actually bad form plus it looks worse with the timing.

Be better.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 3:42 pm
Is he that optimistic about the medicaid buy-in? The medicaid program has a long way to go before it is ready for that. Why not sign the bill and guarantee these protections under future governors in the even that he can’t get the public option? Then, if necessary, include the repeal in the medicaid buy-in bill. If there every is one.

Comment by JJJJJJJJJJJ Friday, Jul 26, 19 @ 3:53 pm