Rep. Reis Urges Federal Super Committee to Grant States Flexibility in Medicaid Administration

November 3, 2011

Olney, IL.…State Representative David Reis (R-Ste. Marie) joined members of the House Republican Caucus in urging the federal Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee) to grant states flexibility in administering its Medicaid program.

“Illinois has already signed into law common-sense Medicaid reforms with the potential to save millions of taxpayer dollars,” Rep. Reis said. “Unfortunately, our reforms were swiftly halted by the Obama administration after they denied two anti-fraud provisions including proof of Illinois residency and one month of income verification.”

House Resolution 593, co-sponsored by Rep. Reis, urges the federal Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend giving states the flexibility to set Medicaid guidelines based on individual factors currently present in each state. The Super Committee shall vote by November 23, 2011 on its debt reduction proposals.

Rep. Reis continued, “Our letter and resolution urge the Super Committee to unleash the restraints currently blocking our Medicaid reforms and permit Illinois to move forward.”

In January of 2011, the State of Illinois took steps to address the escalating costs of Illinois' Medicaid program. Bipartisan provisions were enacted as P.A. 96-1501 to reduce anticipated Medicaid claims by hundreds of millions of dollars and to provide improved coordination of care for program enrollees. Included in these reforms were common-sense provisions to require applicants to submit one month of income data and proof of Illinois residency.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services denied implementation of these reforms leading to increased costs for the Illinois Medicaid program and endangering care for those verifiably eligible for services.

“Our state’s Medicaid program continues to grow at an unsustainable rate,” Rep. Reis said.

“By the end of this fiscal year, an estimated $2.4 billion in medical bills will be delayed, and without additional reforms or funding, the Medicaid backlog by end of Fiscal Year 2013 will hit $5.4 billion. We must be granted the authority to enact our Medicaid reforms for the financial well-being of our state.”

Medicaid eligibility verification will save the program nearly $5 million over the next five years, helping to refocus the program as a safety net for the state’s most vulnerable. The comprehensive Medicaid reform has an estimated cost savings up to $770 million.

For more information regarding Medicaid reform or the House Resolution 593, please visit Rep. Reis’ legislative website at www.davidreis.org or email the district office at keith@davidreis.org.