SPRINGFIELD — On Wednesday, Illinois Governor Pritzker delivered his seventh annual State of the State and Budget Address to the Illinois General Assembly and the people of the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Primary Health Care Association has the following response.
We appreciate the Governor and his administration continuing to prioritize strengthening Illinois’ health care system.
We share in the Governor’s concern about potential cuts and harmful changes to the Medicaid program, including the potential rollback of Medicaid Expansion. There are 3,400,000 Illinoisans that have coverage through Medicaid including 60% of Illinois community health center patients, or roughly 900,000 people. The policy changes under consideration by Congress could shift costs to the state resulting in hurtful cuts to eligibility and services for patients and reimbursement for providers. These are not viable options. Medicaid empowers people to stay healthy and actively engaged at home, at work, and in the community.
Additionally, as the Governor mentioned today, prescription drugs are a significant cost driver in the healthcare system. Health centers are committed to ensuring affordable access to care including medication. This year the Association is spearheading the Patient Access to 340B Pharmacy Protection Act (SB2385/HB3350), legislation to protect the vital 340B drug discount program, which ensures affordable medications for uninsured and underinsured Illinoisans. This initiative employs the state to exercise its regulatory authority to safeguard the program and comes at no cost to Illinois taxpayers.
IPHCA is disappointed to learn about the dramatic proposed elimination of the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults (HBIA) program. Health centers were founded on the belief that all individuals deserve access to healthcare and these programs have created a pathway for thousands of Illinoisans, including many health center patients. If this proposed cut advances, not only will nearly 42,000 residents lose coverage, but many community health centers serving these individuals will be severely impacted – likely forcing reductions in staff and services.
IPHCA understands this proposal is the beginning of a conversation about resource allocation. Illinois’ community health centers will continue working with the Administration and General Assembly to preserve as much of this important program as possible.
We recognize the difficult decisions ahead and look forward to continuing to partner with the Governor’s Administration and the General Assembly to improve access to affordable, high-quality care for Illinoisans in medically underserved communities across the state.
ABOUT IL PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
IPHCA is a nonprofit trade association that serves as the voice of and champion for Illinois’ 56 community health centers, which serve more than 1.5 million patients annually across more than 430 service sites in medically underserved rural, urban, and suburban areas. IPHCA.ORG