Health care officials urge lawmakers to “Hold the Line” with Medicaid funding

Posted on May 4, 2015
A caretaker at Heritage Health in Bloomington signs the "Hold the Line" banner that will be sent to lawmakers in Springfield to protest potential Medicaid cuts. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
A caretaker at Heritage Health in Bloomington signs the “Hold the Line” banner that will be sent to lawmakers in Springfield to protest potential Medicaid cuts. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Nursing homes could be hit with a $245 million cut next year in funding from the state.

The group Health Care Council of Illinois is rallying seniors across the state against cuts to Medicaid as part of its “Hold the Line” campaign. HCCI Executive Director Pat Comstock says nursing homes are already hurt by a $50 million cut this year.

“If the cuts we sustained in 2015 were to be carried over, places like (Heritage Health in Bloomington) would literally not be able to stay in business,” Comstock said.

Heritage Health in Bloomington Administrator Susan Holifield says the facility could lose over $191,000 next year.

“The care for our residents is the most important thing. We want to provide the very best care,” Holifield said. “None of us want to cut staffing, but we do have our limitations.”

Holifield says Heritage Health is already borrowing money to cover payroll because of delays in Medicaid reimbursements.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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