By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – A program to handle the healthcare of children in the care of the state of is being delayed for four months and one state lawmaker said not knowing the cost of a program was just part of the reason for the postponement.
Illinois has a contract with IlliniCare to provide Medicaid wraparound services for more than 17,000 youth in state care. The company already provides managed care services for Medicaid and has gotten $3.3 billion in 28 months. It’s now in line to manage the healthcare for youth in the care of the state, but the start of the program has been delayed from Nov. 1 to Feb. 1.
State officials with the departments of Healthcare and Family Services and Children and Family Services said in a letter last week to the Child Welfare Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Advisory Workgroup that the program will launch Feb. 1, not Nov. 1 as initially outlined.
“There is nothing more important to us than getting this transition right, and after listening to stakeholders across the state, HFS and DCFS have decided to extend the start date for these programs from Nov. 1, 2019 to Feb. 1, 2020,” HFS Director Theresa Eagleson and DCFS Acting Director Marc Smith wrote in the letter. “This delay will help ensure a smooth transition and allow HFS and DCFS to engage further with families, providers and other stakeholders and to monitor the managed care organizations more closely.”
A group of lawmakers last month asked for the program to be delayed after raising questions about the transition.
State Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, said he has concerns with the oversight of managed care organizations in the Medicaid program.
“How on earth, with all of our Medicaid problems and all the current issues that we’re dealing with, why would we create another bureau, or allow another MCO [managed care organization] to take care of something that we already seem to already have a nightmarish problem with?” Bailey said.
The program was spurred on with bipartisan legislation that former Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law.
“When this program launches, youth in care will be served through YouthCare, a standalone managed care program, while the latter groups will be able to participate in the state’s existing HealthChoiceIllinois program,” Eagleson and Smith wrote in the letter. “We are confident that, once implemented, these programs will provide crucial services that do not exist today. YouthCare is another partner to the child welfare system to focus on the health needs of these children, including a strong emphasis on behavioral health, allowing DCFS to maintain its focus on keeping children safe and strengthening families.”
Bailey asked state officials about the program’s cost last month during a committee meeting, but he didn’t get an answer. On Tuesday, he said he still didn’t know the cost.
“We’ve been trying to find that out, trying to get someone to give an answer other than a hypothetical guess that doesn’t seem to exist right now,” Bailey said.
Bailey also said in Illinois it difficult to not think about possible corruption.
“It seems to be kind of a pay-to-play situation and you just treat all your buddies good and you move on down the line and hope it goes well and unfortunately in Illinois, it’s not going too well,” Bailey said.
Messages seeking comment from IlliniCare, and state officials responsible for the program were not returned immediately Tuesday.
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