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Rep. Tracy Reaffirms Call For State to Speed Up and Pay Increased Penalty for Late Medicaid PaymentsFor Immediate Release Springfield, IL…On Wednesday, State Representative Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) was able to restore the original intent of financial reform legislation passed during spring session which was amendatory vetoed by Governor Quinn over the summer. “The governor’s veto of this measure overstepped his executive authority by essentially gutting and changing the entire intent of the legislation,” said Rep. Tracy. House Bill 237, which received unanimous support in both chambers earlier this year, would require the state to make Medicaid payments to healthcare providers within thirty days and increase interest penalties up to 2% for payments that are not made in a timely fashion. “Medicaid providers have exhausted their reserves and are nearing the point where they may have to stop doing business with the state of Illinois,” said Rep. Tracy. “These providers supply important services for many Illinois citizens and just like any other entity they are entitled to payment for their services. Healthcare providers should not be responsible for bankrolling state government and if the state continues to ignore its fiscal responsibilities we need provide an incentive to speed up Medicaid payments. “This measure goes directly to the heart of our budget problems. State government continues to grow and with that growth it fails to live within its’ means,” reiterated Rep. Tracy. “We have accumulated billions of dollars in unpaid bills, not only to Medicaid providers but also to other venders. This is an irresponsible and unacceptable financial practice, and it is my hope that House Bill 237 will provide the incentive needed to curtail state spending and meet our current obligations.” House Bill 237 received the required three-fifths majority vote in the House needed to override the governor’s veto, and now heads to the Senate for further consideration. |
