Safety-Net Hospitals, Lawmakers Push for MCO Reform to Improve Illinois Health-Care

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS (March 4, 2019) — Fed up with delayed and denied state payments that are compromising quality health-care for the most vulnerable, state legislators will join safety-net hospitals to call for landmark reform of managed care companies under Illinois’ Medicaid program.   House Bill 2814 and Senate Bill 1807, also known as the Safety Net Hospital MCO Reform Act, provide a path to rein in repeated abuses by managed care organizations (MCOs) in their oversight of hundreds of millions of dollars of care each year provided by hospitals who treat Medicaid low-income patients.   Rep. Camille Lilly and Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford, the sponsors of the bills, will be joined by Sen. Andy Manar and members of the Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals to discuss the legislation Tuesday at a Statehouse news conference.   WHAT:         News conference announcing legislative efforts to improve MCO Medicaid care  WHO:           Rep Camille Lilly, D-Chicago                       Senate Majority Leader Kim Lightford, D-Maywood                       Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill                       Members of the Association of Safety-Net Community Hospitals and critical access hospitals:                       George Miller, CEO, Loretto Hospital                       Ken Reid, CEO, Carlinville Area Hospital WHEN:        Tuesday, March 5                       10AM   WHERE:      Statehouse Blue Room                        Illinois State Capitol, Basement                        Springfield