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Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is always an honor to serve the people of the 16th Legislative District in the Illinois General Assembly. On my website, you can learn more about me and the issues I work hard to address for our community and our state. Your opinions are important to me, and I urge you to contact my Springfield or Chicago office if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Senator Jacqueline Collins
State Senator, 16th District
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago 16th) has introduced legislation that would implement a new nursing home reimbursement system six months earlier than allowed by last year’s Medicaid reforms.
“It is absolutely imperative that we implement this critical reform without delay so senior citizens unable to stay in their homes can receive the best possible long-term care,” said Collins, co-sponsor of landmark nursing home reform legislation in 2009. “The new system provides a financial incentive to shift the focus in long-term care away from simply filling beds and toward serving the patients whose needs are most acute.”
Last year’s SMART Act (Senate Bill 2840) made cuts to numerous Medicaid services but also required a transition by Jan. 1, 2014, to the Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) long-term care reimbursement system, which is already used by 26 states’ Medicaid programs and nationally by Medicare. The goal was not only to cut costs but to realign long-term care in Illinois so beds are available for patients who cannot live independently. RUGs proponents argue Medicaid shouldn’t foot the bill for unneeded services or care that could have been provided more cheaply in the patient’s own home.
Collins wants RUGs in place by July 1, 2013.
“Many long-term care facilities that are doing the right thing and caring for our most vulnerable seniors are in danger of going out of business because the way they are paid by the state does not accurately reflect what they offer,” Collins said. “For years, I’ve been fighting substandard nursing home services and supporting facilities that provide high-quality care and employ registered nurses and other skilled staff. Moving forward with RUGs will help homes that are already offering great care to the patients who most desperately need it.”
Last week the Senate Executive Committee heard testimony on Collins’ legislation, SB 1476, but did not take a vote on the measure. A vote of the committee and debate by the full Senate are expected in the coming weeks.