Rauner Vetoes Medicaid Purchase Plan As Duplicative

Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation (SB 1446) that would require a more rigorous competitive search for managed-care organizations to administer health care for the Medicaid population.

The Republican governor said in a veto message Friday that his administration did conduct a five-month "competitive, transparent process.'' 

Rauner plans to shift hundreds of thousands of Medicaid patients to managed-care organizations. The Democratic comptroller's office says they will cost $27 billion through 2021. 

Democrats say the contracts should be put through the stiffer Illinois Procurement Code process. 

Rauner says the legislation would require duplicative measures and would prevent nearly $1 billion in health care cost-savings. 

Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), who sponsored the measure, says he plans to attempt an override.