Tryon Votes to Cut $1.4 Billion from Medicaid

Members of the Illinois House took historic action on Thursday to cut nearly $1.6 billion from the State’s $11 billion Medicaid program. 

Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) voted in favor of Senate Bill 2840 and said a key component of the bill is an effort to address waste and fraud by making sure those receiving Medicaid benefits are truly eligible.

“It is estimated that approximately 300,000 people are currently on the Medicaid roles who are not eligible,” Tryon said. “Whether they do not meet the income eligibility requirements, no longer live in Illinois, have died or have aged out of the All Kids program, we will use an independent contractor to scrub the rolls of those who are improperly receiving benefits. This alone is expected to save taxpayers $350 million.”

The bill also provides for a more-fair rate reduction for hospitals, 3.5 percent, he said. Critical Access and Safety Net Hospitals are exempted from the rate reduction.

Specifically, Senate Bill 2840 will:

• Roll back the expansion of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich Family Care program by reducing the eligibility limit for parents to $30,000 for a family of four.

• Imposes a $10 co-pay for emergency room visits.

• Requires a $3.60 co-pay on all services and a $2 co-pay for generic medications.

• Limits prescription coverage to four prescriptions per month without doctor certification or need or specialty drug/condition exception.

• Eliminates funding for adult chiropractic services.

“A great deal of time and care was taken to make sure that services will be there for those most in need,” said Tryon. “We were able to preserve these fundamental services while freeing up at least $1.6 billion that can be used to pay down our backlog of bills.”