IL SJR0043

Recommends the Department of Healthcare and Family Services formally file a Medicaid waiver with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement income and residency verification requirements and other provisions of Public Act 96-1501.

Addresses bipartisan Medicaid reforms signed into law on January 25, 2011 that require Medicaid applicants to submit one month of income data and proof of Illinois residency, which have not been implemented due to federal Maintenance of Effort concerns.

Urges the Department to timely submit State Plan amendments necessary to implement all reform provisions from Public Act 96-1501 to address unsustainable Medicaid growth and an expanding unpaid bills backlog projected to reach $21 billion by end of FY 2017.

Notes the Department previously submitted a waiver request in January 2012 to expand Medicaid eligibility in Cook County despite the enacted 2-year moratorium on eligibility expansion through January 25, 2013.

Calls for full implementation of additional reforms including coordination of care for high-risk pregnancies, Medicaid transparency portal, fraud prevention measures, emergency room copayments, and specialty drug programs.