May 22, 2013
Illinois House Committee Approves Medicaid Expansion (SB26)
Associated Press
A plan to expand Medicaid coverage for low-income adults without children squeaked through an Illinois House committee Tuesday despite scrutiny over a last-minute amendment that would give more flexibility to mental health institutions. The Human Services Committee voted 8-6 in favor of the expansion, which is part of President Barack Obama's health care law.
Support Medicaid Expansion to Protect Illinois Employers
Crain's Chicago Business - Letter from Illinois & Chicagoland Chambers of Commerce & IRMA
As Illinois' Legislature heads into the final weeks of the spring session, the business community is acutely aware of the serious decisions lawmakers must make to restore security to the state's economic future. While it may seem counterintuitive to argue in favor of expanding Illinois' Medicaid program to serve single, childless adults at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, our organizations believe expansion is an important part of a very complex equation in alleviating overall costs on employers in the short and long term. That's why we urge the General Assembly to approve Senate Bill 26.
'Rocky Law' (SB2178) Awaits Quinn's Signature
Southtown Star
For the first time in Illinois history, schools would be required to make sure that student athletes are covered by catastrophic health insurance under a bill that passed the House on Tuesday.
FAQ: Under New Health Law, How Low Can Coverage Go?
Wall Street Journal
Administration officials confirmed offering bare-bones health coverage to workers could avoid an across-the-board $2,000-per-worker penalty for companies that don’t offer any insurance at all, skirting rules that were widely expected to enrich private insurance.
House Immigration Talks Hang on Health Care
Politico
House immigration negotiators have given themselves until the end of the week to hash out language on what kind of health benefits should be available to undocumented immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship, a crucial issue for the talks.