Tony Meeting with Arc Exec’s Today

Yesterday, I met with Sanjoy Musunuri, CEO of Aetna Better Health Care of Illinois to discuss
Integrated Care and Phase III. I wanted Sanjoy to know our opposition to Phase III which places
all developmental disability services under managed care. I also wanted to hear his perspectives
on Phase I & II of Integrated Care. It was interesting to learn that Aetna can pay providers within
7 to 10 days after service is delivered through their electronic billing systems. The Aetna network
of providers has just about doubled in the past year with Rush signing on, Loyola in the network
(under a new name) and the University of Chicago about to join. Phase II includes Home Services
and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver. In my opinion the roll-out of Phase II did not include enough
stakeholder involvement, and people are experiencing many problems because of that.
Sanjoy has an excellent grasp of Integrated Care and the concerns of The Arc around Phase III.
It was an excellent meeting and I look forward to working with Sanjoy in the future as health care
reform becomes a reality in Illinois. Tuesday I will testify in Chicago at the House Human Services
Committee hearing on Integrated Care.I was also able to spend a couple of hours with Tony Records, Ligas Court Monitor. Tony and I
meet regularly to discuss implementation of the Ligas Consent Decree; the movement of people
of the waiting list; expanding community living options and barriers to class member’s needs. Tony
shared with me that the Administration has exceeded its targets by move more people off the waiting
list and moving more people out of ICFDD’s than required. There continue to be barriers for class
members who have needs beyond the current waiver services. The Court Monitor’s Second Year
Report will be out soon.

Off to Lisle now!
.

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@www.thearcofil.org