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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Illinois Medicaid program provides insurance
3coverage to the most vulnerable populations, including
4seniors, people with disabilities, low-income children, and
5adults who could not otherwise afford access to healthcare; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Currently in Illinois, 3.2 million Illinoisans
7are enrolled in the Medicaid program, and over half of the
8births in Illinois are to children on Medicaid; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Illinois Medicaid program ensures coverage
10for children in the care of the Department of Children and
11Family Services who have been entrusted to the State of
12Illinois to provide for their safety and well-being; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Illinois Medicaid currently operates as a federal
14entitlement program, wherein the federal government provides
15federal matching dollars for services rendered to Illinois
16Medicaid beneficiaries; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The federal government has unveiled a proposal for
18states to apply for block grant funding for their Medicaid
19programs, which would effectively provide a limited amount of
20resources to states and allow states to limit and reduce
21populations and benefits provided to their Medicaid

 

 

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1beneficiaries; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Block grant funding would result in limited
3federal resources to states and subsequently reduced services
4to Medicaid beneficiaries, who rely on the state for healthcare
5services they need and deserve; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The proposal would also greatly reduce vital
7resources to healthcare providers throughout Illinois,
8particularly those who serve greater percentages of low-income
9families in both rural and urban areas of Illinois; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The proposed Medicaid block grants would create
11incredible financial pressure on an already fragile healthcare
12system, which would inevitably lead to reduced services and
13limited healthcare access for those in need; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The block grant proposal is a federal option,
15meaning that states must apply via an 1115 Medicaid
16Demonstration Waiver in order to transition from an entitlement
17program to a block grant program; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20due to the negative impact this proposal would have on the most
21vulnerable populations and the providers who care for them, the

 

 

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1State of Illinois shall not apply for an 1115 Demonstration
2Waiver that would result in limited federal resources or
3reduced services to Illinois Medicaid beneficiaries; and be it
4further
 
5    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of the resolution be
6delivered to the Speaker of the House, the President of the
7Senate, the Minority Leader of the House, the Minority Leader
8of the Senate, and the Governor.