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* 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.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:08 pm
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==if it is botched==
Rich, your sunny optimism is a lesson for the rest of us who would have said *when* “it is botched”.
Comment by Bourbon Street Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:17 pm
Will this transition to Aedicaid increase the number of beds for children stuck in hospitals beyond medical necessity?
Comment by FranklinTJones Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:37 pm
Quagmire Zone…ahead.
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:39 pm
Governor’s do own.
But when Andrea Thome, Sara Feigenholtz, and Robyn Gabel have to talk to the press in order to be heard by the governor, something is not right on the Second Floor of the State Capitol.
And HFS and DCFS not having their ducks in a row also points to the second floor.
The contract was signed on Election Day by Team Rauner. Blame your predecessors, take a time out, huddle the team, and come up with a plan to get everyone into the end zone together.
Right now you seem to be running a hurry-up offense against foster kids and their advocates, and it is not a good look.
Comment by Randall McNabb Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:45 pm
Why worry? DCFS and all the MCOs are doing a great job. /s
Comment by GADawg Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 1:48 pm
Which deputy governor oversees DCFS and HFS? Seems like the sense of urgency hasn’t hit either agency nor the 2nd floor.
Comment by Iris Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 2:39 pm
And I think it *will* be botched. I’ve seen multiple reports of families not getting notifications for all children, having the web site fail, wrong names for caregivers (so they can’t make changes), etc.
Not to mention that some kids will have to pick between providers. When you have a child with PTSD who is working through trauma, pulling one of their therapists because of an insurance change isn’t going to help them overcome their obstacles.
Comment by Stuff Happens Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 3:46 pm
How is the contract worded?
Is there a per capita charge that starts November 1?
If so, that would make people afraid of delay. They would have to pay both the per capita fee and the cost of the current providers.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:38 pm
@Iris - Sol Flores has both HFS and DCFS.
“Monitoring” is not a great choice of words. The state is the legal parent of these kids. When someone starts monkeying with your kids’ health coverage, you do more than “monitor.” Sounds like he is only vaguely aware there is a problem.
Do governors get a morning briefing like the President?
Comment by Randall McNabb Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 4:49 pm
Iris, I believe it is DG Flores but I’m not sure. She was tapped because of her background in human services so I hope she’s on this.
Comment by Red Skeptic Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 5:00 pm
Rural foster children with disabilities will be put into provider deserts with this plan as is
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Sep 24, 19 @ 9:11 pm