As Illinois continues to tread water in relation to its finances, state Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka released her quarterly report (pdf), showing the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services is holding an estimated $2 billion in Medicaid bills.
When Medicaid and other unpaid state bills are factored, the estimated backlog of Illinois' bills is roughly $9 billion. "Even if there is a decline in the backlog of bills at [the Illinois Comptroller's Office], there will be an end-of-year increase in the backlog of Medicaid bills that will offset any appearance of improvement," Ms. Topinka wrote.
Gov. Pat Quinn released a plan last week that would slash $2.7 billion out of the Medicaid program, and roughly 75 percent of the plan focuses on increasing cuts and reducing Medicaid rates to hospitals and other providers.
Hospitals could lose up to $500 million between reduced rates and large-scale cuts within the program.
When Medicaid and other unpaid state bills are factored, the estimated backlog of Illinois' bills is roughly $9 billion. "Even if there is a decline in the backlog of bills at [the Illinois Comptroller's Office], there will be an end-of-year increase in the backlog of Medicaid bills that will offset any appearance of improvement," Ms. Topinka wrote.
Gov. Pat Quinn released a plan last week that would slash $2.7 billion out of the Medicaid program, and roughly 75 percent of the plan focuses on increasing cuts and reducing Medicaid rates to hospitals and other providers.
Hospitals could lose up to $500 million between reduced rates and large-scale cuts within the program.
More Articles on Illinois Medicaid:
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