HR0718 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0718 LRB103 40302 MST 72382 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, critical to the well-being, dignity, and prosperity of all individuals; and

WHEREAS, Illinois ensures equitable access to healthcare services for all its residents through its Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid), recognizing that diversity and inclusion in procurement processes enrich and strengthen the healthcare ecosystem; and

WHEREAS, Ensuring equitable access to healthcare and inclusive providers increases positive healthcare outcomes and quality of care; and

WHEREAS, Congruence with provider-patient race is correlated with a reduction in patient mortality, increased utilization of preventative services, improved connections between patients and their primary care providers, and reductions in returns to emergency departments after being discharged; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act of 2021 created the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission within the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to evaluate the effectiveness of Illinois' managed care program and to address inadequate levels of care coordination and care planning under MCOs; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois HealthCare and Human Services Reform Act of 2021 created the Managed Care Oversight Fund as a special fund in the State treasury to be used by HFS to support contracting with women and minority-owned businesses as a part of HFS's Business Enterprise Program requirements; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois HealthCare and Human Services Reform Act of 2021 created the Medicaid Business Opportunity Commission within the HFS to develop a program to support and grow minority, women, and persons with disability-owned businesses; and

WHEREAS, The involvement of Business Enterprise Program (BEP) companies, encompassing women, minority, and disabled-owned businesses is essential in reflecting the diverse composition of Illinois and in promoting economic equality and opportunity; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is urged to include the following measures in the upcoming Medicaid Managed Care Organization Request for Proposal (RFP) to ensure a robust, equitable, and inclusive procurement process:

(1) RFP Criteria Adjustment: The current RFP criteria distributes BEP participation across women (8%), minorities (11%), and disabled individuals (1%); to better reflect the demographic composition of the State and to promote greater equity, the new RFP criteria should be adjusted to require participation from qualifying BEP entities that are, at minimum, reflective of the State's population; this change is a step towards contracts being more representative of the State's minority population and in keeping with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus' Healthcare Pillar;

(2) Review and Accountability Mechanism: To ensure ongoing commitment to these principles, a biennial review of contract awardees should be conducted; should a selected bidder not fairly represent BEP spend among the minority population, the next qualified bidder will be selected; this mechanism promotes accountability and continuous improvement in achieving Illinois' diversity and inclusion goals;

(3) Reporting and Oversight: The Department should, on a monthly basis, provide a report to each member of the General Assembly detailing adherence to the Healthcare Pillar mandates previously enacted; this report should include, but is not limited to, analysis of the total spending and percentage of spending paid to BEP vendors by awarded Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), broken down by the vendors' race, gender, and status as either a healthcare provider or non-healthcare provider; this transparency is crucial for oversight and strategic planning;

(4) Quarterly Recommendations by Black Caucus Leaders: The three leaders of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus should, on a quarterly basis, provide recommendations to the Governor's Office regarding which MCOs should receive an altered auto-assignment rate, taking into account BEP spend alongside quality, innovation, and price; this recommendation process ensures that MCOs are incentivized to adhere to BEP spending goals, reflecting fairness and equity in the BEP program;

(5) Total BEP Spend: Quarterly, the Commission on Equity and Inclusion, in conjunction with HFS, should compile and publicly report the total amount of BEP expenditures across all MCOs participating in the Illinois Medicaid Program, as compared to those MCO's total spending on all Illinois Medicaid expenditures; this report should include detailed delineation by race and ethnicity of the contracted business owners, specifically categorizing the expenditures among African American, Asian, Latino, and White women-owned businesses; furthermore, the report should clearly specify the percentages and dollar amounts allocated to these BEP companies, ensuring a clear and accessible breakdown that highlights the State's dedication to equitable and inclusive business practices; and

(6) In addition to demographic and financial details, the report should distinguish between funds allocated to providers versus non-providers, offering a nuanced view of how BEP expenditures contribute to the Illinois Medicaid Program; each MCO, as part of their contractual obligations with the State, should provide detailed and accurate data on their BEP spending; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this initiative aims to foster an environment of accountability, where progress towards more equitable and diverse procurement practices can be measured, assessed, and adjusted as necessary to meet Illinois' goals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That by instituting these reporting requirements, the State of Illinois reaffirms its commitment to not only achieving diversity in its procurement practices but also to fostering an environment of transparency where the impact of these practices can be openly evaluated and celebrated and underscores the importance of intentional, actionable measures in promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within the healthcare sector and beyond, ensuring that our policies reflect our values and commitment to all citizens of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That these measures represent the State of Illinois's commitment to fostering a healthcare system that is equitable, diverse, and inclusive, recognizing the intrinsic value of every individual and the strength that diversity brings to our collective efforts to improve healthcare access and outcomes.