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State Looks to Cut Medicaid Spending
(IRN) -- Illinois is looking for ways to spend less on Medicaid.

Illinois spends more than $14 billion on Medicaid, for children and their parents in low-income families, the disabled and the elderly in nursing homes. About 2.8 million Illinois residents are enrolled.

Special committees of the Illinois House and Senate are looking for quick ways to reduce costs. At a special House hearing on ideas Friday in Chicago, Julie Hamos, director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, said eligibility must be more carefully verified. She is preparing to propose new requirements:

* Applicants would be required to demonstrate their monthly income, not just one pay stub
* Applicants would have to prove residency in Illinois
* Beneficiaries would have to have their eligibility verified every year

More stringent examination of eligibility will be more important once health care reform takes full effect in 2014, at which time adults with incomes up to 133 percent of the poverty level will be eligible. Hamos says many individuals will fluctuate above and below that income line, depending on hours worked, etc., so a system must be established to determine when they're eligible and ineligible, and to make the transition from Medicaid to private insurance and back again seamless.

Hamos also said the program should strive to keep people healthy, because that's cheaper than paying bills once they become seriously ill.

(Illinois Radio Network)
12 03 10 by Newsroom
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