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04/24/2013 - Governor Quinn Addresses Annual Conference on Affordable Housing
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn today addressed the annual Illinois Governor’s Conference on Affordable Housing, where he discussed his commitment to increasing homeownership opportunities, helping working families stay in their homes and stabilizing communities. The governor also thanked public-private housing leaders for partnering with the state of Illinois to create and preserve affordable housing opportunities across Illinois.
02/22/2013 - Illinois Partnering with Centers for Medicare And Medicaid Services On Coordinated Care Plan for Medicare and Medicaid Clients
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a groundbreaking joint effort to reform the way care is delivered to clients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative (MMAI) demonstration project, which is designed for clients who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (known as “dual eligible”), will provide coordinated care to more than 135,000 Medicare-Medicaid enrollees in the Chicagoland area and throughout central Illinois beginning October 2013.
02/01/2013 - State Launches Second Phase of Integrated Care Program
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the second phase of the state’s Integrated Care Program (ICP) to improve health and quality of life outcomes for seniors and persons with disabilities in the Illinois Medicaid system. Beginning today, long-term services and supports (LTSS), including nursing home care and home and community based care, will now be added to the service package for the 40,000 individuals currently eligible for the ICP, which was created to keep residents healthy through more-coordinated and better medical care, helping prevent unnecessary healthcare costs.
01/02/2013 - HFS and DHS Launch Enhanced Eligibility Verification Project
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) today announced the launch of a project authorized under the State’s recent Medicaid reform act to provide enhanced annual eligibility screening of clients’ income and residency to ensure that they remain eligible for services.
01/02/2013 - HFS and DHS Launch Enhanced Eligibility Verification Project
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) today announced the launch of a project authorized under the State’s recent Medicaid reform act to provide enhanced annual eligibility screening of clients’ income and residency to ensure that they remain eligible for services.
11/09/2012 - Illinois Names Eight Healthcare Plans to Care for Medicaid and Medicare Clients
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today named eight health plans that were chosen to partner with the state as it moves the majority of people covered by Medicaid to systems of coordinated care. Today’s announcement involves the Medicare-Medicaid Alignment Initiative ((MMAI), a groundbreaking joint effort with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under which Illinois is aiming to be one of the first states in the nation to reform the way care is delivered to clients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid Services.
11/02/2012 - HFS Announces Breach of Private Information
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announced today that a contractor working for the agency experienced a security incident that may have resulted in the disclosure of personal information of 508 clients of the agency.
10/16/2012 - Quinn Administration Names Six Healthcare Networks to Lead Transition to Coordinated Care
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today named six healthcare networks that have been chosen initially to launch the state’s transition to greatly expanded coordinated care by 2015. The six provider groups applied to be part of the “Care Coordination Innovations Project” led by HFS Director Julie Hamos. They were selected based on their demonstrated ability to offer a holistic approach to delivering coordinated care for special populations including seniors and adults with disabilities. The Department plans to work with the other provider organizations not selected in the first round to explore possible enhancements to the project proposals.
06/14/2012 - Governor Quinn Signs Laws to Save Medicaid
CHICAGO – June 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law a package of reforms that will rescue the state’s Medicaid system from the brink of collapse and make the program sustainable for the future, one of his top priorities this legislative session.
05/29/2012 - Statement from Governor Quinn on General Assembly Passage of Legislation to Save Medicaid
SPRINGFIELD – May 29, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding the Senate’s passage of SB 2194, which raises the price of cigarettes by $1-a-pack to prevent children from smoking, and is the final part of his plan to restructure Medicaid.
05/25/2012 - Governor Pat Quinn Statement on House of Representatives Passage of Cigarette Tax Legislation to Rescue Medicaid
SPRINGFIELD – May 25, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding the Illinois House of Representatives passing Senate Bill 2194, a key part of his proposal for Medicaid restructuring.
05/24/2012 - Governor Pat Quinn Statement on General Assembly Passage of Medicaid Rescue Legislation
SPRINGFIELD – May 24, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today released a statement regarding the Illinois General Assembly passing Senate Bill 2840, a key part of his proposal for Medicaid restructuring.
05/23/2012 - Employers Support Governor Quinn’s Plan to Rescue Public Pension and Medicaid Systems
SPRINGFIELD – May 23, 2012. With just eight days left in the spring legislative session, Governor Pat Quinn today announced a surge of support from businesses and economic development groups across Illinois for his plans to rescue the state pension and Medicaid systems. Recognizing the positive impact the Governor’s plans will have on small and large employers, businesses throughout the state urged lawmakers to pass major pension and Medicaid stabilization reforms this spring session. More than 50 businesses and economic development groups have backed the Governor’s proposals.
05/22/2012 - Governor Quinn Talks Pension and Medicaid Reform with Students
OAK PARK – May 22, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today hosted a town hall meeting with students at Julian Middle School about the urgent need for pension and Medicaid reform. With just 9 days left before the end of spring legislative session, the governor continued his push to stabilize Illinois’ Medicaid and pension systems and educate the public about our fiscal challenges. During the visit, Governor Quinn took questions from 8th graders about their stake in what happens in Springfield this session and the impact that these two issues have on the future of Illinois.
05/21/2012 - Governor Quinn Urges Lawmakers to Act Swiftly on Medicaid and Pension Restructuring
SPRINGFIELD – May 21, 2012. With 10 days until the end of the spring legislative session, Governor Quinn today urged lawmakers to act to restructure the state’s Medicaid and pension systems. Today House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2840, also called the SMART Act, was filed to restructure the Medicaid system. The bill is based on the Governor’s proposal to save Medicaid, which is on the brink of collapse.
04/19/2012 - Governor Quinn Announces Plan to Stabilize Illinois’ Medicaid System
SPRINGFIELD – April 19, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a plan to stabilize Illinois’ Medicaid system and prevent collapse of the program, one of his top priorities this session. The Governor’s plan creates $2.7 billion in Medicaid savings – which includes more than $2 billion in Medicaid reductions and federal matching funds from additional revenues on tobacco products. Today’s proposal follows weeks of productive talks led by the governor’s office with a working group comprised of members from all four legislative caucuses, as well as meetings with numerous provider groups.
04/17/2012 - Conference Highlights Governor Quinn’s Commitment to Affordable Housing
CHICAGO – April 17, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn sent a message of welcome to Illinois to federal housing leaders to Illinois as they addressed the 500 attendees at the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Affordable Housing at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Governor Quinn commends the state’s housing industry leaders for their dedication to ensure working families, seniors and people with disabilities access to have safe, affordable housing.
01/24/2012 - Quinn Administration Launches ‘Innovations Project’ To Improve Health Care Results
CHICAGO – Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) have put out a call for health care providers to collaborate to develop innovative approaches to coordinating care for Illinois’ Medicaid recipients, focusing on improved preventive and follow-up treatments. The “Innovations Project” stems from last year’s Medicaid reforms and is part of the administration’s commitment to moving Illinois towards a health care system that provides incentives for improved health outcomes. Yesterday, HFS published a formal solicitation that gives providers until the end of May to submit detailed proposals to participate in the “Care Coordination Innovations Project,” under which Illinois will begin a shift toward moving at least 50 percent of its clients into coordinated care programs by 2015. This shift is a key feature of the state’s bi-partisan Medicaid Reform legislation that was signed into law by Governor Quinn. State officials anticipate that this
12/19/2011 - State Selects Five Supportive Living Facilities To Serve Adults in Illinois with Physical Disabilities
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the approval of five Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) across the state to serve persons aged 22-64 with physical disabilities. These five SLFs will add nearly 450 additional apartments to serve this population.
08/13/2011 - Governor Quinn Signs Bill Creating Commission to Research Disparity in the African-American Community
CHICAGO – August 13, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed House Bill 1547, creating the Commission to End the Disparities Facing the African-American Community. The commission will research the disparities facing African-Americans in the areas of healthcare, health services, employment, education, criminal justice, housing, and other social and economic issues. Its findings will be reported to the General Assembly.
08/09/2011 - Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Improve Health of Illinois Residents
CHICAGO – August 9, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today signed four new laws designed to improve the health of residents throughout Illinois. The new laws will: require insurance coverage of diabetes management education programs; improve dental care for children; increase education on the importance of preventative cardiovascular screenings; and allow patients to access a vast online database of information regarding Illinois’ 46,565 physicians and surgeons.
07/01/2011 - All Kids Health Insurance Reform Takes Effect Today
CHICAGO – The Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is reminding the public that as of July 1, an income limit of 300 percent of the federal poverty level takes effect for the All Kids children’s health insurance program. The limit was adopted as part of the landmark Medicaid reform legislation enacted in Illinois in January. Any child enrolled prior to June 30, regardless of the family’s income, will continue to receive coverage under All Kids until June 30, 2012, as long as their premiums are paid and they continue to meet all other requirements.
05/31/2011 - HFS Begins Enrollment in Groundbreaking Integrated Care Program
CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is announcing that enrollment has begun in the first of its kind Integrated Care Program for seniors and persons with disabilities in the Illinois Medicaid system. This program will improve care for nearly 40,000 Medicaid recipients in the suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Lake, and Will Counties.
04/06/2011 - State Announces Selection of Managed Care Plans for FY12
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced that it has selected four managed care organizations to provide benefits to state employees, dependents and retirees starting July 1. The plans will also provide care to members of the Local Government Health Plan, the Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program and College Insurance Program. State officials estimate that the award of these four contracts will result in a savings of approximately $102 million in FY12, and a savings in excess of $1 billion over the life of the contracts.
03/14/2011 - State Selects Five Supportive Living Facilities For Pilot Project for Dementia Care
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) today announced the approval of five supportive living facilities (SLFs) selected to participate in an innovative pilot project designed to provide specialized housing and care for persons with dementia. The five sites are in Decatur, Effingham, Rantoul, North Aurora and Chicago.

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