State Senator Raoul hails Governor’s approval of Cook County Waiver Law

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13^th) hailed Governor Quinn’s signature of House Bill 5007 as a critical first step toward a Cook County Medicaid waiver program that will enroll 100,000 people in a network of coordinated care and result in savings for Cook County taxpayers.

The new law clears the way for the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to ask the federal government to allow the Cook County Health and Hospital System to run a Medicaid program limited only to county health facilities and paid for entirely by county and federal funds.

“As the son of a long-time Chicago community physician who never turned away a patient because of his or her inability to pay, I view the inclusion of 100,000 uninsured Chicagoans in a program of high-quality, coordinated care as a victory for human rights,” Raoul said. “The individuals covered by the waiver program will have a medical home and access to preventive healthcare instead of being forced by their finances to seek treatment only in emergencies. Managing chronic conditions before they reach a crisis point will save money and lives.”

Senator Raoul, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and other backers of the plan have emphasized that the program will be operated at no cost to state government and taxpayers outside of Cook County. Clients will be able to receive covered services only at Cook County Health and Hospital System facilities. Low-income, uninsured adults are already seeking and receiving free emergency care in Cook County hospitals; if the county is able to establish a waiver program, these services will qualify for federal matching funds to offset the county’s costs.

“As the state makes unprecedented cuts this year to its Medicaid program in order to balance the budget, we should not lose sight of the ultimate goal: access to health care for all, regardless of income,” Raoul said. “Cook County is making a smart decision in favor of better care, better outcomes, and prudent use of financial resources.”