[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
| [ Introduced ] | [ Engrossed ] | [ Enrolled ] |
| [ Senate Amendment 002 ] |
92_SB1978gms
State of Illinois
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Springfield, Illinois 62706
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR
August 2, 2002
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate
92nd General Assembly
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois
Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto Senate Bill 1978, "AN ACT
in relation to public aid."
Senate Bill 1978 creates the Medicaid Hospital and
Physician Payment Task Force to study the adequacy of
hospital and physician rates in the Illinois Medicaid
program. The bill requires the task force to issue a report
to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2003.
There are two factors concerning Senate Bill 1978 that
are troubling. First, the formal establishment of a Medicaid
reimbursement task force through legislation is unnecessary.
The Department of Public Aid already conducts analysis
concerning the adequacy of Medicaid reimbursement as a matter
of routine, without the need for a new State law compelling
this activity. In fact, the Department of Public Aid often
discusses Medicaid rate issues and shares data with
representatives of hospitals and physicians.
Secondly, pending litigation brought by advocacy
organizations representing Medicaid recipients against the
Department of Public Aid and the Department of Human Services
would prevent the task force from operating in an atmosphere
necessary to accomplish the goals set forth in Senate Bill
1978. Such a task force requires an open and free exchange
of ideas and information, which cannot take place in the
presence of litigation.
For these reasons, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill
1978.
Sincerely,
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR