Chicago, Illinois
United States
AARP
Chicago, IL - State Office
Springfield, IL - Legislative Office
Women Struggling to RetireAARP Commends Attorney General
For Immediate Release Contacts:
December 16, 2008 David Irwin 312-458-3621
Gerardo Cardenas 312-458-3609
AARP COMMENDS ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR EFFORTS TO PAYSTATE MEDICAID BILLS
Move Helps Preserve Illinois Residents’ Access to Critical Health Care Programs & Services
Statement by Nancy Nelson
AARP Illinois’ Senior Manager for Advocacy
SPRINGFIELD — With Illinois struggling to pay its Medicaid bills, hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents were facing the risk of losing access to critical health care services and programs. Today, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan moved to change that, stepping up to help the state meet its short-term cash obligations and ensure that Medicaid bills get paid.
AARP commends Madigan for taking the necessary action to allow Illinois to borrow $1.4 billion. The money will help preserve access to needed health care during already difficult times for some of Illinois neediest people.
Illinois has a responsibility to meet its financial obligations, in order to help people receive the services and programs they need. Due to the state’s fiscal issues, many health care providers haven’t received payment for services for several months. These providers are often small, not-for-profit, community based organizations, which, without state assistance, are increasingly faced with the possibility of having to close their doors to the most vulnerable citizens of Illinois
While today’s news will help the state meet its obligations in the short-term, AARP is urging Illinois’ elected officials to come together and work towards long-term solutions. These providers need to be fully funded to continue their important work of providing the health care services and programs that so many Illinoisans depend on.
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