As Cash Flow Tightens, Medicaid Ruling Looms
A court hearing this week on Medicaid payments could further hamstring the state financially. flickr/TaxCredits.net
A court hearing scheduled for Tuesday has the potential to shake up Illinois' already-precarious financial situation. Organizations that run the state’s Medicaid program are asking a judge to speed up their payments.
There are a lot people and organizations in line to be paid by state government. The Medicaid providers are asking a federal judge to put them at the front of it.
The thing is, Illinois spends a lot on Medicaid. Comptroller Susana Mendoza says letting those groups cut in line means Illinois would soon run out of money.
"We'll have to go to the courts and ask them: 'OK, out of all of these court-mandated payments, which ones am I allowed to violate?'" Mendoza says.
That could jeopardize things like paychecks for state workers.
The Medicaid providers say that argument shows Illinois is not making their payments a priority.
Links
- Illinois’ Medicaid Problems Could Jeopardize Money For Schools, State Workers, Attorneys Say
- Illinois’ Late Payments Could Cost Medicaid Patients Access To Doctors
- In Republican States Like Missouri, Medicaid Expansion Still Faces Stiff Opposition
- Illinois Issues: Has The Managed Care Option Helped Medicaid Patients?
- Indiana’s Model For Medicaid Could Spread—But It’s Not Working For Everyone
- The Future Of Medicaid May Be Found In Indiana, Where The Poor Pay
- Health Alliance CEO On Maintaining Medicaid Services During State Budget Crisis
- Forget Pensions And Salaries: Medicaid Biggest Piece Of Rauner’s Budget Pie