March 20, 2009
Dear Editor,
The Illinois
nursing home community commends Gov. Pat Quinn for his plan to continue the
current level of funding for facilities plus setting a 30-day Medicaid payment
schedule in his proposed budget. This will protect the health care of more than
52,000 elderly Medicaid-dependent residents. We thank him for promising that
the state will pay its bills on time.
Many Illinois nursing
homes have not received Medicaid payments for the last six months and, in this
economic period, it has been difficult to keep the
doors open. This change will allow these facilities to continue to focus on
resident care, without such extreme financial pressure. More than two-thirds of
nursing home residents depend on Medicaid payments from the state to pay for
their care.
When nursing homes
pay their employees and vendors in a timely fashion, it spurs spending and
strengthens local economies. In many Illinois towns, particularly in Central
and Southern Illinois, the local nursing home is the largest employer in the
area.
Protecting the
elderly is one of the most important missions of state government. The state’s
commitment to pay past bills as well as set up a regular schedule of 30-day
payments will strengthen the safety net of care for some of Illinois’ neediest
citizens and also reassure their dedicated caregivers and concerned families.
Pat Comstock
Executive Director
Health Care Council of Illinois
Terrence Sullivan
Executive Director
Dave Voepel
Executive Director
Illinois Health Care Association