Health Care

UPDATE: House concurs with early implementation of ObamaCare

UPDATE: House concurs with early implementation of ObamaCare

Earlier today, we reported that the Illinois Senate passed HB 5007, which will implement key portions of ObamaCare nearly two years early in Cook County. Moments ago, the House concurred, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. Much like the Senate vote earlier today, it was clear that the outcome was certain before the bill ever came...

By Jonathan Ingram

Illinois Senate moves to implement ObamaCare early

Illinois Senate moves to implement ObamaCare early

by Jonathan Ingram The Illinois Senate just passed HB 5007, which will implement key portions of ObamaCare nearly two years early. We’ve previously debunked the myths surrounding this plan, explaining how it fails taxpayers. From the Senate gallery, I watched as the vote was taken with virtually no debate or discussion. It was clear that the outcome was...

By Jonathan Ingram

ObamaCare disaster: Why Cook County waiver fails taxpayers

ObamaCare disaster: Why Cook County waiver fails taxpayers

Lawmakers have been tasked with reducing Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. Last year, lawmakers came together and decided – almost unanimously – that until the state could actually operate the program in a way that served the needs of the most vulnerable, it shouldn’t expand eligibility to overload the system. But earlier this year, Gov....

By Jonathan Ingram

Medicaid reform bill fails to deliver

Medicaid reform bill fails to deliver

House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2840 fails to live up to the promises made to taxpayers. While this bill is an improvement over earlier drafts, there is still cause for alarm.

Rescuing Medicaid: How Illinois can reform Medicaid without rate cuts and tax hikes

Rescuing Medicaid: How Illinois can reform Medicaid without rate cuts and tax hikes

In February, Gov. Pat Quinn told lawmakers that to rescue Illinois’ Medicaid program, the state would need to “reduce expenditures in the program by $2.7 billion” for fiscal year 2013. But so far, neither Quinn nor lawmakers have proposed a plan that does so. The Illinois Policy Institute has proposed reforming Medicaid into a premium assistance program,...

By Jonathan Ingram

Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care

Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care

Moments ago, Gov. Quinn released his plan to cut Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. So what does that plan actually look like? It looks like a tax hike coupled with even worse access to care for the poor. Sen. Dale Righter and Rep. Patti Bellock have both voiced opposition to the Governor’s plan, and the Medicaid working...

By Jonathan Ingram

Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits

Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits

The problem Illinois state government owes more than $83 billion to the pension plans it operates for retired employees; servicing this obligation is crippling the state’s budget. But pension debt is only part of the story. Much less publicized are the additional obligations the state has taken on to provide health insurance for pensioners, the...

By Jonathan Ingram

Medicaid fiscal notes advances

Medicaid fiscal notes advances

Institute proposal to put "price tags" on Medicaid legislation advances out of Senate committee.

Day 3: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court

Day 3: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court

Today was the final marathon session of oral arguments over ObamaCare. It began this morning with the question of what to do with the rest of the law if the individual mandate is struck down, a very real possibility after yesterday's hearing.

Day 2: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court

Day 2: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court

If the government can force you to buy health insurance, what can’t they force you to do or buy? That was the question posed by a number of Supreme Court justices throughout today’s oral argument on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. And that was the question President Obama’s lawyers couldn’t seem to answer. That question didn’t...

By Jonathan Ingram