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
Illinois Council on Long Term Care