This is big, very big ruling in court yesterday. The ruling applies to all Medicaid beneficiaries
infants, children and adults. Monday, I talked about this possibility with you.
Hats off to the Shriver Center and AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, with pro bono assistance
from the Chicago law firm, Goldberg Kohn!
Illinois Officials Promise to Pay for Health Care Services Rendered to Medicaid
Beneficiaries Without Delays Caused by the Budget Impasse
Reversing an earlier decision, Illinois state officials have assured a federal judge that the
state will make all payments due to health care providers for services rendered to all
Medicaid beneficiaries statewide, and that there will be no delays in those payments
because of the lack of a state budget.
On July 10, 2015, the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services (DHFS) notified
health care providers that the agency would discontinue payments to them pending passage
of a fiscal year 2016 budget.
Although the director encouraged health care providers to continue to provide services to
Medicaid beneficiaries, DHFS has not reimbursed providers for services rendered to
beneficiaries since July 1, 2015.
Low-income Illinoisans who rely on Medicaid were faced with loss of access to care, as unpaid
providers like hospitals and clinics would reduce services or close their doors in ever-
increasing numbers.
They went to court to enforce the guarantee of access to health care services secured in two
earlier lawsuits. The consent decrees in Memisovski v. Maram and Beeks v. Bradley require
DHFS to ensure that children covered under Medicaid have ready access to preventive care
and treatment as needed, and require that DHFS “furnish assistance” to all Medicaid
beneficiaries without interruption or delay, despite the lack of a state budget.
Plaintiffs are represented by the Shriver Center and AIDS Legal Council of Chicago, with pro
bono assistance from the Chicago law firm, Goldberg Kohn.
In a hearing today before federal Judge Joan Lefkow, attorneys for the Rauner Administration,
Illinois State Treasurer, and Illinois Comptroller announced that, contrary to the July 10 notice
, the state has decided to make all Medicaid payments for all patients and all programs
statewide and with no further delays attributable to the budget impasse.
Payments that would have been made in July are currently being processed for payment the
week of August 10, and August payments will be made during the week of August 24, basically
on the normal schedule followed when there is no budget impasse.
Based on those promises, Judge Lefkow scheduled the matter to be heard on August 19 to
determine if the promises are kept and, if not, to consider whether to order further relief.
“Medicaid beneficiaries deserve to get the health care that they need, despite Illinois officials’
failure to arrive at a state budget,” said John Bouman, President of the Shriver Center. “We
are pleased that the state has reversed its earlier decision on reimbursement for Medicaid
services, and we fully expect that the state will keep the promises made to the judge today.”
Tony Paulauski Executive Director
The Arc of Illinois
20901 S. LaGrange Rd. Suite 209
Frankfort, IL 60423
815-464-1832 (OFFICE)
815-464-1832 (CELL)
Tony@thearcofil.org
