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Pritzker continues taking heat over curbing growth of healthcare program

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* I went through this with subscribers earlier today, but here’s the beginning of the Tribune’s take…

Backlash continued to rain down on Gov. J.B. Pritzker Wednesday following his decision last week to close enrollment for a state-funded health insurance program for immigrants under 65 as other Illinois officials highlighted that a bill is sitting on the governor’s desk that would allow the state to issue regular driver’s licenses for noncitizens.

Though not connected, the two issues took center stage as Pritzker continues to push back against criticism from Latino lawmakers and immigrant advocates that his administration’s decision on the health insurance program was “immoral and fiscally shortsighted.” Pritzker has defended the move because program costs are skyrocketing.

But protesters gathered at the Federal Plaza downtown for a “die-in,” in which they hammered Pritzker and carried signs in both English and Spanish declaring health care as a human right.

“I’m enraged that instead of getting to celebrate the lives that have lived and thrived under this program, we have to give our office of the governor the visual that they will react to, which is the lives that will die,” said Graciela Guzman, a former campaign director for Healthy Illinois, a coalition of pro-immigrant and health care advocates. “I’m here to remind you together in unity we can continue to make this push and we need to.” […]

When asked whether the governor plans to sign the driver’s license bill into law and if that would ease any criticism he’s received for his handling for the health care program, a Pritzker spokesman said the governor “looks forward to reviewing the bill.” The spokesman highlighted the administration’s support of immigrants and refugees, which he said includes “cash assistance, housing and utility assistance, employment and job training services, and health care education.”

Giannoulias’ office clarified that their presser was planned a couple of weeks ago. But it ran smack dab into the controversy.

…Adding… The bill in question hasn’t even been sent to the governor’s desk yet.

…Adding… The House has now sent the governor the rest of the bills it had, including the Giannoulias initiative.

* Background from WTTW…

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration announced the coming changes on Friday. According to a news release from the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services, highlights include:

• A “temporary” enrollment pause. When the new fiscal year begins July 1, new eligible residents ages 42 to 64 won’t be able to sign up.
• The state will cap at 16,500 the number of seniors who can enroll.
• Everyone enrolled will have to start paying copays of $100 to $250 for hospital visits that are not eligible for matching federal reimbursement.

Those are qualifiers that Tovia Siegel, director of the Healthy Illinois Campaign, said are rooted in bias and were made without consultation of advocates.

“There’s concerns about people who don’t know this program exists and will show up at the hospital needing cancer care or other acute care and would have been eligible for coverage and now won’t be,” Siegel said. “There’s certainly confusion and fear now and there’s also trepidation about what hasn’t happened yet that we expect to happen when a program that we’ve had for years now is suddenly closed down.”

Siegel said the copays will be too expensive for a population that by definition is low-income, and that the enrollment cap leaves little room for more seniors to join.

The argument that it’s all about cost saving is nonsense, Siegel said, because in the long run access to preventative health care saves money. She believes something else is at play.

“The narrative around not being able to spend money on health care — and especially health care for the state’s most vulnerable — does come from a place of anti-immigrant sentiment and believing some people are more worthy of health care than others,” Siegel said.

* Capitol News Illinois…

The emergency rules will now be considered by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a bipartisan 12-member group of lawmakers from both chambers of the General Assembly. The rules will remain in place for 150 days, although HB 1298 allows the administration to refile an identical rule after that time.

JCAR could vote by a two-thirds majority to suspend the rules. It could also object to them, leaving them in place while requesting a response from the administration. But nothing in law requires JCAR to act on the rules, in which case they would remain in place.

Advocates hailed the 2020 launch of the HBIS program as setting a “national precedent” for providing health care for immigrant seniors regardless of their legal residency status.

But it far outpaced the initial estimate of $2 million annually that was cited by its House sponsor at the time, Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Chicago, who has since moved on to Congress.

“We have to protect something so fundamental to our humanity as providing health care coverage to people, regardless of documentation status,” Ramirez said in a statement after the governor announced the changes. “It’s extremely disappointing to hear that the state administration has decided to stop immigrants from accessing life-saving health insurance under the pretense that it costs too much, especially since the alleged costs of the program are in question.”

From May 27, 2020…

Illinois will become the first state to provide Medicaid for undocumented seniors not only because of what state Rep. Delia Ramirez has heard from her constituents, but because of her own family’s experience.

Tucked in near the end of the 465-page budget implementation bill that passed the Illinois General Assembly late Saturday night was a provision giving Medicaid access to noncitizens over 65 years old and whose income is $12,670 or less, which is at or under the federal poverty level. […]

The expansion was a big win for the Legislative Latino Caucus, which Ramirez took lead on the effort through the health and human services working group leading up to the special session. She said the coverage will save the state money in the long run, costing about $2 million, which in her opinion, “is nothing to a $2 billion Medicaid bill.”

* WICS…

Grassroots campaigns are utilizing social media platforms to spread the message to enroll online through the Department of Illinois Human Services.

“It’s not that terribly difficult [to enroll in the program]. But certainly, if we’re talking about large numbers of people coming in all at once, that might be a challenge,” Executive Director at East Central Illinois Refugee Center Lisa Wilson said.” This is all coming down pretty fast and furious.”

I heard anecdotally today that the sign-up app was overwhelmed ahead of the cutoff deadline.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:26 am

Comments

How do the border states handle this issue?

Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:33 am
Not sure that these tactics will get these organizations what they are looking for and it makes them look unreasonable from a financial standpoint. All they are doing is hurting someone who has been an ally for his term in office.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:35 am
= costing about $2 million =

If there had been a legitimate cost estimate at the time, the program probably would never have been enacted in the first place.

Comment by cover Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:36 am
Republican border states have not expanded Medicaid for their OWN born in the USA citizens, let alone non-citizens.

Comment by Frances M Langum Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:39 am
“How do the border states handle this issue?”

They bus them to other states….

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:41 am
=== They bus them to other states… ===

This issue is separate from the migrants issue. With that said, none of those states provide this level of health care to undocumented immigrants.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:42 am
(That was a rhetorical question by the way in case it wasn’t obvious. The border states don’t have any healthcare programs for immigrants at all.)

Perhaps all these enraged advocates should call their Member of Congress and ask for a solution to our broken immigration system.

Comment by Just Me 2 Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:44 am
It’s not “rooted in bias” it’s rooted in cost. They can either tell us what they want cut or how high they want taxes raised, or be quiet. The new cost estimates marked it as costing $1.1 BILLION, $800 odd million more than anticipated. Where’s that money coming from?

Be serious or be gone, come on now.

Comment by Perrid Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:44 am
This article provides a good summary of what other states are doing in terms of immigrant health care. What they are doing pales in comparison to what we have done in Illinois.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/09/medicaid-for-undocumented-immigrants-democrats-00095949#:~:text=Beyond%20Illinois%2C%20California%2C%20Maine%2C,the%20state%20health%20insurance%20exchange.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:50 am
=Those are qualifiers that Tovia Siegel, director of the Healthy Illinois Campaign, said are rooted in bias and were made without consultation of advocates.=

Attacking the most progressive governor Illinois has ever had, who happens to be their most powerful ally is just dumb. Illinois is pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into this issue, but that money is not endless. The rest of Illinois has a right to services etc. with the limited budget money.

You are not owed a consultation, and this is definitely not bias (well said Perrid).

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:54 am
JB deserves the heat from the left. He played their game and just spent money like a drunk sailor.. like in the Godfather.. he’s not a war time leader..

Comment by NotRich Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:55 am
We don’t have a healthcare crisis. We have an “I don’t want to pay for my healthcare” crisis.

Comment by Papa2008 Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 9:55 am
I am generally pro immigration. However, I would like to point out that as a citizen I don’t get free health care, my children don’t get free health care and neither do my siblings. I understand why people get upset. They resent paying for others to receive free what they have to pay for.

Comment by Manchester Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:02 am
If you are not going to give a serious cost estimate, you are not really an advocate for anyone but yourself.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:04 am
I feel for Pritzker on this. It would be like the tax payers of America protesting Grover Norquist.

Comment by James Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:06 am
“Siegel said the copays will be too expensive for a population that by definition is low-income, and that the enrollment cap leaves little room for more seniors to join”

That is true for a whole heck of a lot of “middle-income” Illinois citizens, none of who will get free or subsidized healthcare.

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:18 am
I am very much in favor of a program like this and I am a strong advocate for the undocumented. However, this kind of thing needs to be supported at the federal level, where the funds are. The state cannot take on something at this cost level. The activists need to aim their ire at Congress.

Comment by Tony DeKalb Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:18 am
“Attacking the most progressive governor Illinois has ever had, who happens to be their most powerful ally is just dumb.”

…line of thinking got them into this mess.

Comment by A Cynic Might Argue... Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:19 am
I’m with Manchester. I also consider myself pro immigration but I don’t understand the position of entitlement that some of these advocates have.

Pritzker has gone above and beyond yet it’s still not enough.

Sign me up for free health care.

Comment by Chicago Voter Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:19 am
We need to make these folks citizens treated just the same as all other Illinoisans. Not create all these piece-meal niche programs that give special status and special benefits to people by virtue of not being full-fledged Illinoisans.

These activists are not helping their cause with their theatrics and sense of entitlement.

Good for JB making a stand for sanity when it comes to the runaway costs of this program that have far exceeded the estimates previously provided by its backers.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:22 am
“The bill in question hasn’t even been sent to the governor’s desk yet.”

someone is reading CF, the bill status was just updated …

” 6/22/2023 House Sent to the Governor”

Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:23 am
Alexi is positioning himself in gubernatorial policies, not by the accidental (there are no accidents in these type of things) timing and positioning of “Alexi” in this controversy, but what is true is that by not being the governor it’s easier to posture (and pander) to a lower political denominator… while trying to climb.

I’ve always felt the best way to get the “next” job was to do an exceptional job where you currently are.

It seems ridiculous “shoeless” pictures and happenstance pandering is another angle.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:24 am
==health care as a human right.==

Sadly, this is only true for individuals over 65. Let’s not forget the thrashing Barack took for trying to implement ‘Romneycare’ nationwide.

Comment by Jocko Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 10:49 am
The Healthy Illinois Campaign was likening Pritzker to DeSantis. Makes them look like goofballs.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 11:40 am
===someone is reading CF, the bill status was just updated===

LOL

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 11:42 am
There is a point of diminishing returns where attacking Pritzker makes this all a flat circle to “Republicans” angst too… needlessly misunderstanding the politics applied to policy.

It’s like Jim “Governor No” Edgar, and misunderstanding the challenges of the office to overreaching political wants to a posturing… Alexi thinks it’s smarter politics, but how can it be within governing challenges.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 11:46 am
This is like Example #1,054,712 that health care ought to fundamentally be a national government responsibility, as other posters have pointed out. States can differ somewhat from each other, but lots of “race to the bottom” issues if any one state expands its benefits too far.

Comment by ZC Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 11:53 am
=and just spent money like a drunk sailor.. like in the Godfather.. he’s not a war time leader..=

All evidence to the contrary. Also, the bond rating houses disagree with you.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:00 pm
With 140 billion in pension debt- Illinois didn’t need or can it afford this program at all

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:05 pm
===With 140 billion in pension debt- Illinois didn’t need or can it afford this program at all===

Don’t worry - Sue -

I’ll save this for you… when you want corporate welfare, tax breaks for things like a Bears stadium…

So please, I got it, don’t worry.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:09 pm
OW- show me when I have ever advocated for any of those things. I am a big believer in not spending money we don’t have. Let JB pay for his social largess out of his unearned billions he inherited from his grandfather who had more common sense then our Governor

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:12 pm
===show me===

You were against the Fair Tax, as one example, even though it would’ve brought more monies to the treasury.

You made a point it was to keep wealthy folks “here”, and Griffin was “already leaving”

You advocate for tax breaks, while now complaining about spending.

Please stop. Your own history is mockingly funny towards fiscal prudence.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:15 pm
===Let JB pay for his social largess out of his unearned billions he inherited from his grandfather who had more common sense then our Governor===

If you’d like to argue like an adult to the fiscal realities of putting a monetary measure to policy and how elections put winners in position to make policy, let’s have that discussion

You are not serious to this at all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:18 pm
JB supported this spending to advance his political ambition. Let him wear the jacket. He never had to say yes

Comment by Sue Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:20 pm
===Let him wear the jacket===

Governors own.

They always do.

I’m just making note of the fiscal situation as you see it so when you want tax breaks or some other ridiculous thing that gets you played by someone like Griffin, so you won’t have to remember it.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:31 pm
=Let JB pay for his social largess out of his unearned billions he inherited from his grandfather=

Somebody sounds jealous.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:56 pm
I applaud the governor. Money does not grow on trees last I checked.

Comment by Teve Demotte Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:57 pm
Healthy Illinois sadly are getting press on this but in my opinion are wholly unserious about this issue with their commentary and melodramatic die in.
Why aren’t they doing this to the Hispanic Congressional leaders, who also have heaped on to the Gov, for their ineptitude on this issue in Congress? Or lack of accomplishments overall, granted the standing ovation for Adam Schiif was really nice. sn/

You have a Governor that has literally given everything to the progressives and they continue to cry like babies when they don’t get their way on everything. It’s getting so tiring to watch.

Comment by Frida's boss Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:12 pm
I’ve been confused by this. I am required to have health insurance until I’m 67 (currently 65). So why does that not apply to all? Can immigrants not get Obamacare? If not, that needs to be rectified to where they can purchase affordable health insurance.

Comment by Lurker Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:20 pm
I hate that the governor had to make this decision but there it is. The state can afford to provide $X million dollars but it can’t afford $Y million dollars. Asking folks to pay a co-pay is not unreasonable. It’s a small amount next to the cost of care. We all have to pay co-pays for our care.

And capping the numbers is unfortunate but at the end of the day $X has been budgetted for this program.

Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:53 pm
@Sue:

You and those haters like you are willfully ignoring the state’s current fiscal position. I can’t remember the last time the state was in this good of a financial position. But you do you.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 4:45 pm
Props to the governor.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 6:04 pm
@Lurker - “Can immigrants not get Obamacare?”

That depends on status.

https://www.healthcare.gov/immigrants/lawfully-present-immigrants/

Lawfully present immigrants are eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace®.
The term “lawfully present” includes immigrants who have:

“Qualified non-citizen” immigration status without a waiting period (see details below).
Humanitarian statuses or circumstances (including Temporary Protected Status, Special Juvenile Status, asylum applicants, Convention Against Torture, victims of trafficking).
Valid non-immigrant visas.
Legal status conferred by other laws (temporary resident status, LIFE Act, Family Unity individuals). See a full list of immigration statuses eligible for Marketplace coverage.

Comment by Odysseus Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 8:31 pm
The Gov is 100% in the right here. The healthy Illinois campaign needs a lesson in advocacy 101. Their messaging is goofy bananas.

Comment by Shytown Friday, Jun 23, 23 @ 4:16 am