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* Some background is here. Keep in mind that this event was designed to commemorate National Small Business Week…
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday appeared to brush aside concerns from independent pharmacies whose owners say reduced reimbursements from the state’s expanded Medicaid managed-care program threaten to put them out of business.
“The reality is what we’re trying to do is drive more competition, and sometimes businesses can be competitive in costs, and some businesses can’t,” the Republican governor said at a Springfield event honoring Illinois small businesses.
Rauner was asked to respond to complaints about the managed-care reboot, HealthChoice Illinois, that have been made by owners of independent pharmacies, small-chain pharmacies and also small businesses selling outpatient medical equipment and supplies.
Those businesses say managed-care companies and companies operating as pharmacy benefit managers as part of the managed-care reboot are forcing pharmacies and durable-medical equipment providers to accept drastically lower rates for serving Medicaid patients since the reboot took effect earlier this year. […]
Rauner said that despite concerns expressed by small businesses adversely affected by HealthChoice Illinois, “My concern is to make sure we have high-quality health care provided to our residents who need it and deserve it, and that we drive real value for taxpayers.”
There is some dispute, however, over whether those reforms are actually driving costs down.
*** UPDATE *** Pritzker campaign…
Independent pharmacies and small businesses selling medical equipment are struggling to keep their doors open after reimbursement rates were slashed under Bruce Rauner’s Medicaid managed care overhaul, but Rauner couldn’t care less.
While attending an event to celebrate National Small Business Week, Rauner dismissed the small businesses’ concerns, stating “sometimes businesses can be competitive in costs, and some businesses can’t. It’s unfair to our taxpayers to subsidize businesses that are high-cost.” The Illinois Pharmacists Association responded to the SJ-R, “I think he basically wrote us off. He obviously doesn’t understand the mechanisms of how health care works in his administration.”
“Bruce Rauner dismissed pleas from small businesses struggling to keep their doors open during a National Small Business Week celebration,” said Pritzker campaign spokesman Jason Rubin. “This is staggering incompetence from a failed governor who is completely unaware of the damage he’s done across the state.”
* Meanwhile, on another Medicaid topic, here’s the Pritzker campaign…
After families and caseworkers testified about the systemic failures of Bruce Rauner’s new Medicaid enrollment system, the failed governor downplayed the situation at a press conference yesterday.
“Many folks aren’t used to doing the process the right way, so it’s causing a little bit of consternation,” Rauner said yesterday when asked if he was satisfied with his overhaul. The new system delayed applications and cut access to healthcare while over 175,000 Illinoisans were kicked off Medicaid in four months.
“Bruce Rauner and his agencies wipe their hands of responsibility while failing to provide the basic healthcare services that every Illinoisan deserves,” said Pritzker campaign spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh. “This is gross mismanagement from a failed governor unleashing needless pain on families across this state.”
* Video…
* Transcript…
REPORTER: Are you happy with the new way managed care is working? There was a hearing in Chicago yesterday. Apparently, your directors DHS and HFS didn’t show up. But people are saying they’re waiting in line for hours, eight hours sometimes. Disabled kids, their parents can’t get stuff because the new computer system put in under a new $300 million contract isn’t working right. Is it working right with Deloitte? Have mistakes been made, and what can you do get out of that bureaucratic, apparently, a mess?
RAUNER: So, we are implementing a new IT system that was first started in I believe 2013 is when the new systems got put into place. And that process is ongoing. New IT systems are complicated. It’s certainly not perfect, and I’m never satisfied. I always wanna do better and faster. The reality is we haven’t followed proper procedure in Illinois for years in terms of getting eligibility determined for folks receiving government benefits. Now there’s actually a rigorous process that actually needs to be done right, and many folks aren’t used to doing the process the right way, so it’s causing a little bit of consternation.
The governor went on to complain about how the budget that was passed over his veto “gutted” his IT program, which he says will save money in the long run.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:23 am
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“Rauner brushes off growing concerns over his first term” appears to be the theme of his reelection campaign.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:26 am
Just several more out of touch reasons why Rauner’s “contract” should not be “renewed” in November. Callous, callous, callous remarks and reasonings.
Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:27 am
How is this about competition? It’s just about powerful insurance companies cramming down losses on small businesses and patients.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:33 am
===The reality is we haven’t followed proper procedure in Illinois for years in terms of getting eligibility determined for folks receiving government benefits. Now there’s actually a rigorous process that actually needs to be done right, and many folks aren’t used to doing the process the right way, so it’s causing a little bit of consternation.===
Note:
Gov. Rauner, in all his blame, is blaming those in need… for not following the rules.
Think on that.
His computer contract … oh that 2013 bit is fun, classic Rauner too… has failed tens of thousands of people, Illinois’ neediest… but it’s those needy people are to blame… “learning the rules”
Let’s not forget… not only the Quincy Veterans… but Rauner’s nursing homes record.
Rauner’s lack of empathy is breathtaking.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:35 am
Rauner should switch to racing since he says,”drive” and “driving” so much.
Comment by Sir Reel Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:36 am
” Is it working right with Deloitte?” - Is anything working right with Deloitte? - SAP/ERP, IES, CCMIS, They all have problems, and those are the only ones I know, I am sure there are others in the state that can add to what a great job Deloitte has done in installing computer applications. /s
Comment by Rufus Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:42 am
When he comes into the room is Shaggy’s It Wasn’t Me what plays?
Comment by Anon Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:43 am
==our residents who need it and deserve it==
Bruce might hurt himself if he blows that dog whistle any harder.
Comment by Jocko Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:44 am
Some of the people being kicked off are being kicked off for not getting all of the paperwork in on time. That is technically true, though it overlooks the complexity of the system and the fact that a lot of local offices are swamped and and not able to help everyone figure out how to complete the paperwork. A lot of the problems are not on the recipients though, a lot are just plain and simple errors in the system. You can’t ignore 75% (I just picked a number out of the air) of the problem in your response and pretend it’s a response
Comment by Perrid Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:44 am
If Rauner loses, may Mrs. Rauner can rejoin the Human Services Advisory Council to proclaim her devotion to human service issue.
Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:46 am
===“…and deserve it, and that we drive real value for taxpayers.”===
Yep. Agreed. The whistle is loud… with no empathy… just accusational drivel… with words being a wink and a nod.
Raunerism is an angry way.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 10:47 am
Sometimes, it’s fun to imagine how different recent Illinois history would be if it were possible to make “having a conscience” be one of the requirements for becoming governor.
Comment by Crispy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:00 am
I think Rauner is oblivious to the fact that the IT issues are now more than six months old. One of the issues noticed as early as last October is that people with disabilities who have never worked or established a credit history are now somehow expected to clear a credit check with Experian. How much longer should we wait to get that bug worked out? It seems particularly cruel and also ableist to ask a medically fragile or developmentally disabled person to interface with a credit agency.
Comment by Dome Gnome Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:03 am
After 3 plus years Team Rauner continually fails to drive the narrative behind policies. Are pharmacies over charging the state? They could be and maybe the Rauner policy is good for the state, but I have no idea because Team Rauner doesn’t tell me why. Maybe they can compare Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates to sell their policy, instead we get Rauner in front of a mike talking about competition.
Same thing with the new benefits IT systems, are the people getting kicked out unqualified for benefits? If so, maybe it is good thing, but, again, the people with the details aren’t sharing the details, so I’m left to think people are getting kicked out because of a computer glitch when maybe some are getting kicked out for valid reasons.
Comment by Swift Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:11 am
I have some Republican friends that actually think that small businesses have a friend in their corner in Bruce Rauner.
Pritzger is going to have a lot of fires to put out when he comes in. Kicking Deloitte off the state payroll would be one.
Comment by The Dude Abides Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:21 am
–“The reality is what we’re trying to do is drive more competition, and sometimes businesses can be competitive in costs, and some businesses can’t,”–
Putting CVS in charge of paying its competitors aint about driving competition, it’s about driving them out of business and establishing a monopoly.
Rauner is a vulture capitalist, he made his fortune picking at the bones of those who actually worked hard, took chances and made a go of it.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:27 am
This isn’t as serious as the wholesale “drops” (which are life threatening in some cases) but the geniuses who designed the system, and awarded the mgmt contract to Experian, put in a rule that requires everyone who wants to enroll and manage their case online via the ABE portal to have a credit score. Thousands of guardians (often parents) of severely disabled adults (who typically do not have any credit cards or history) are currently unable to enroll their wards and are totally shut out of the online system, instead remaining with IDHS’ historically un-timely paper forms and snail mail.
Comment by Dadvocate Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:34 am
He obviously never heard anybody at the Winnetka cocktail parties mention this. So why is it a problem?
Comment by Pieroge tirebiter Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 11:50 am
Willy , I am starting to think you don’t like Governor Rauner and loved everything about Illinois before he was inaugurated
Who are you going to blame for all of the problems and Democrats failure to be cooperative and professional if JB wins?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:11 pm
I take the “haven’t been doing it right for years” comment as a shot at DHS staff, not recipients of services. He’s following senior managment’s argument that the system is fine, and that the issue is with the staff working in IES. It fits his narrative of AFSCME members being either lazy, incompetent, or both.
Comment by Fixer Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:11 pm
==sometimes businesses can be competitive in costs, and some businesses can’t==
The guy that is constatly complaining about businesses leaving now has a “whatever” attiude about them closing?
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:21 pm
==I am starting to think you don’t like Governor Rauner and loved everything about Illinois before he was inaugurated==
Stop being a victim. Opposing the Governor does not mean that. Grow up
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:22 pm
===I am starting to think you don’t like Governor Rauner and loved everything about Illinois before he was inaugurated
Who are you going to blame for all of the problems and Democrats failure to be cooperative and professional if JB wins?===
(Sigh)
Making it about me, you haven’t addressed the failure Rauner has been.
Further, your bot programming and memory banks don’t go back to Blagojevich or Quinn and the criticisms I have given to both.
If you find where I write “everything is great” and not in a snarky way, out it in a comment.
Attacking me isn’t helping Diana, Bruce, the Administration, or the 26% approval Rauner “enjoys”.
I’m a nobody. Elevating me or questioning me, or not knowing (pruposely or not) what I wrote during Quinn’s or Rod’s terms… you’re not making any points, you’re wasting your time.
“Who are you going to blame for all of the problems and Democrats failure to be cooperative and professional if JB wins?”
Like when Rod and Quinn were governors, I’ll comment as i always have. If Pritzker wins, if you’re still here and not moved over or reprogrammed you may get to see that then.
Right now, Rauner and Raunerism deserves the criticism they get. Pointed criticism. Choosing to try to make me the issue and not the 3 year record of the sitting governor of Illinois… maybe the question you should ask yourself is why are you worried about this nobody (me) when a governor has so much power in so many ways to govern for a better Illinois… and he refuses to do it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:26 pm
“I am starting to think you don’t like Governor Rauner and loved everything about Illinois before he was inaugurated”
Straw man argument — Misrepresenting someone’s argument to make it easier to attack. By exaggerating, misrepresenting, or just completely fabricating someone’s argument, it’s much easier to present your own position as being reasonable, but this kind of dishonesty serves to undermine honest rational debate.
“Who are you going to blame for all of the problems and Democrats failure to be cooperative and professional if JB wins?”
tu quoque — Literally translated as ‘you too’, this fallacy is voiding engagement with criticism by turning it back on the accuser — at best, it answers criticism with criticism. Also known as “the appeal to hypocrisy” it is commonly employed as an effective red herring because it takes the heat off someone having to defend their argument, and instead shifts the focus back on to the person making the criticism.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:34 pm
Surely the guy doesn’t even take himself seriously. He’s a wreck.
Comment by Bobby Hicks Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 12:58 pm
Illinois dysfunction preceded Governor Rauner and yet you cry only Governor’s own.
Total nonsense- Kings and Dicatators own. There are three co equal branches in Illinois government and all have had their role in Illinois dysfunction.
Governors have been thwarted by an all powerful Speaker, who writes the names of 5 Governors he brags about beating, on an index card and hands it to the current Governor, and then pledges to be cooperative and professional.
Pretty funny critique MrJM, accusing me of “By exaggerating, misrepresenting, or just completely fabricating someone’s argument, it’s much easier to present your own position as being reasonable, but this kind of dishonesty serves to undermine honest rational debate.”
I think you got your boomerang out
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:08 pm
===Illinois dysfunction preceded Governor Rauner and yet you cry only Governor’s own.===
… as did Rauner with “Pat Quinn failed”
Are you even trying?
===There are three co equal branches in Illinois government and all have had their role in Illinois dysfunction.===
Edgar Ramp.
Governors… own.
Ask Candidate Rauner.
The rest of your typical drivel is easy to wash away.
60 and 30.
Rauner can embarrass Madigan with 60/71 at any time for any of his proposals. Rauner can’t get 71, let alone 60. That’s on governors. They need to rally support for their agendas. Same as it ever was.
Are going to discuss what this topic is about, or are you going to continue to fake ignorance to the parameters and “rules” you are constantly reminded of, sometime multiple times on a daily basis?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:32 pm
LP: you are a reliable counter to the overwhelmingly anti-Rauner commenters. You are correct, he is not responsible for all of the stockpiles of problems we face. But aside from that, can you give a credible list of major improvements he IS responsible for? Maybe I’ve missed them. Thanks
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:44 pm
If what you say is true (it’s not), why do more Illinois residents blame the Speaker than the Governor?
Why will more Illinois residents choose the Speaker’s handpicked candidate for Governor who will not criticize or distance himself from him in any way?
“Hundreds of politicians share blame for drowning the state’s government in billions of dollars of debt and unfunded pension liabilities. But House Speaker Michael Madigan – a dominant political force for three decades – has been the constant in key decisions that created the mess.”
After a record like that, how on earth is he not a “change person”
I know you don’t choose to be so negative either, at least to the Democrats.
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-illinois-madigan/
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:46 pm
===If what you say is true (it’s not)===
“Pat Quinn failed” was Rauner’s, so your beef is with Rauner, not me.
===why do more Illinois residents blame the Speaker than the Governor?===
Rauner isn’t running against Madigan. Madigan is running unopposed. Rauner has his own race, with a 26% approval, down double digits to a candidate already under water himself… so there’s that.
===Why will more Illinois residents choose the Speaker’s handpicked candidate for Governor who will not criticize or distance himself from him in any way?===
Right now, Rauner is losing to that candidate.
Rauber has lost Conservatives, pro-lifers… unions are mobilized and strengthened together like no other time when they wanted to be. Rauner brought labor together… and Rauner won’t say the word “Trump”, as Trump is more popular than Rauner, and also lost Illinois by 16 points.
Rauner has no constituency… Jeanne Ives showed that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 1:59 pm
To bring this back… to the Post,
If Rauner wants to make the campaign about “taxpayers” and dog whistles… why not embrace Trump? You’d think if Rauner wants to make this a campaign “against” things, embracing Trump would “help”.
Wonder why Rauner won’t?
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:02 pm
@LP - much as I appreciate your fairly regular and predictable comments I hasten to point out the obvious - when you refuse to acknowledge the foibles, faults and flaws of BVR you do yourself no real service.
And when you attempt to divert the conversation and make it personal with those frequent commenters like @Willy, @Word and @MrJM you have to recognize that they speak for many of us. Yet you prefer to make it personal,
Honest discussion is very important on this site, but being honest about the facts is equally important.
Comment by illini Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:13 pm
Rauber has lost Conservatives, pro-lifers…
They are now voting for JB or Mike Madigan and Labor’s other hand picked candidate Sam Mc Cann? Have any data to back up this ludicrous claim?
You better get out and get your signatures in, time is a wasting
Thanks for the selective nature of your lecture Illini, why not apply the same advice equally?
Because you too blindly defend the Speaker and blame the Governor exclusively for the dysfunction
Comment by Lucky Pierre Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 2:40 pm
“Lucky Pierre”
One of you, a while back, used “==“ to show others’ words.
About 3 months ago one of you used “ “ only…
Today, just copying. Change your name to Dred Pirate Roberts. No wonder none of you can remember what anyone has already told you.
These aren’t accidental changes.
===They are now voting for JB or Mike Madigan and Labor’s other hand picked candidate Sam Mc Cann? Have any data to back up this ludicrous claim?===
48% voted for Ives. McCann only needs 3-5% to cause serious damage for Rauner, sitting at 26% approval. Who do you think voted for Ives, uber-left, costal, limousine liberal Raunerites?
===You better get out and get your signatures in, time is a wasting===
I’m not circulating any signatures except for my own write in campaign that - Norseman - is spearheading.
Ask one of the other “Lucky Pierre” about that bit.
===Because you too blindly defend the Speaker and blame the Governor exclusively for the dysfunction===
Just because someone isn’t full throttle supporting Rauner, it doesn’t mean they support Madigan or anyone else.
It’s that thinking that will keep Rauner at 26% approval.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 3:01 pm
Madigan has nothing to do with either of the debacles in this post. This is all purely administrative branch issues.
Expecting people who have no money to have a credit history is just not realistic. Expecting our developmentally disabled to master a complicated new computer application is also not realistic.
Any good business or systems analyst should have been able to point out both of those issues early on in the process.
That’s a failure of whatever task force did the requirements, analysis, and design.
The governor continues to fail at understanding his job. It’s not just to look for efficiencies in the pharmaceutical system. It’s to provide NEEDED services to all areas and people of this state. That includes pharmacies in Rural areas. Running them out of business runs contrary to that. This administration has lost my trust.
Comment by Thoughts Matter Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 3:30 pm
==Because you too blindly defend the Speaker and blame the Governor ==
Says the guy who blindly defends the Governor. lol. You’re a piece of work LP. Totally incapable of having any sort of honest discussion because you’re too busy giving us all the same old talking points.
You’re a victim enabler. Nothing is the Governor’s fault. Your arguments are just sad.
Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 4:03 pm
DHS sent a notice to all caseworkers on 4/23/18 that they would not have “cutoff” for medical cases in April. Meaning they will stop the automatic cancellations for one month. So I don’t doubt that DHS will report the reduction in cancellations as a victory (and hope that this story goes away), while doing nothing to fix the underlying problem with the program.
Comment by nickname Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 4:30 pm
Tone deaf attitude towards small business during small business week.
Comment by Huh? Wednesday, May 2, 18 @ 6:11 pm
Rauner has his history mixed up (again). The IES project was announced in the fall of 2013. It missed “Phase 2″ implementation dates of 09/2015, 07/2016 and 10/2016.
IES was finally implemented 10/2017 (over two years late) and the old system (CDB) was shut down for good (with no possibility of being brought back).
Since Rauner considers this a Quinn Administration project, he has never showed any interest in it. Nevertheless, many of IES’s problems can be laid at the feet of the Rauner Administration.
Comment by Me Again Friday, May 4, 18 @ 9:36 am