HR1480 LRB095 22159 RLC 52456 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Illinois currently owes approximately $500
3 million in unpaid debts to health care providers who have
4 provided essential medical services to eligible residents of
5 Illinois who are members of the Medicaid health care program;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, This backlog, at one point during the recently
8 concluded fiscal year, totaled more than $1.5 billion and led
9 to some providers having to wait more than 200 days for
10 payments; and
 
11     WHEREAS, An audit, released May 13 by the Illinois Auditor
12 General, has uncovered widespread examples of late State
13 payments affecting many facets of Illinois' health care
14 community; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Many hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes have
16 been forced to scale back their operations or even close
17 because of financial pressures associated with these late
18 payments; and
 
19     WHEREAS, The expense increases and cost hikes associated
20 with the health care industry do not stop during periods when
21 the State of Illinois is not paying its Medicaid bills; and
 

 

 

HR1480 - 2 - LRB095 22159 RLC 52456 r

1     WHEREAS, The overall health of Illinois citizens and
2 residents depends on the financial security and stability of
3 health care providers; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
5 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
6 the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois declares
7 as its statement of budgetary intent that any proceeds to the
8 State from any sale, long-term lease, or transfer of rights
9 over the Illinois State Lottery, or any other
10 revenue-generating sources created for a significant State
11 capital construction program, be applied first to clearing any
12 unpaid debts owed by the State to providers of health care
13 services under the Medicaid program and other State-funded
14 health care programs; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That only after these debts have been completely
16 cleared shall the State apply the remaining proceeds from any
17 Illinois State Lottery privatization action to a State capital
18 construction program; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to
20 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
21 the House of Representatives.