State Sen. Bill Brady said the Quinn administration has been moving too slow on enacted reforms to Medicaid. (Photo courtesy Illinois Senate Republicans)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON - State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, has joined the chorus of Republicans accusing the Quinn administration of taking too long to make cost-saving reforms to Medicaid.

The state will be reviewing the Medicaid rolls to see who is still getting benefits - and shouldn't.

"The governor is dragging his feet on the implementation of these reforms that have led to a great deal of fraud and abuse and corruption with the Medcaid system. His failure to implement these is driving a stake in the heart of Illinois economic revivial," Brady said.

The Department of Healthcare and Family Services recently finalized a contract to begin the review. A DHS spokesman says the department is moving with the time frame mandated by state law. DHS is currently training employees and taking other steps so it can begin eligibility verification starting Jan. 1.

The state's plan to purge the Medicaid rolls is part of a reform package designed to plug a $2.7 billion deficit. That plan which lawmakers adopted in the spring was to be pared with $700 million from a tobacco tax, $300 million from state taxes and $100 from a hospital assessment program.
 
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.

You can find Scott and Colleen's interview with Brady on the podcast page at WJBC.com.