Directs Public Health Director to Lead Health Care Jobs Review as Illinois and Nation Mark Third Anniversary of Affordable Care Act

CHICAGO - As Illinois moves forward implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to increase access to quality health care, Governor Pat Quinn today tapped the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to lead a workgroup that will recommend steps the state needs to take to fill thousands of new health care jobs created by the ACA. Today's announcement, on the third anniversary of the President's signing of the ACA into law, is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to improve the health of the people of Illinois. The workgroup will help ensure Illinois reaps the full benefits of the landmark legislation.

"In President Obama's home state, we are taking full advantage of this historic opportunity to increase access to health care and create thousands of good-paying jobs," Governor Quinn said. "The ACA will help bring affordable health coverage to hundreds of thousands of people in Illinois. We want to make sure our veterans, students and everyone who is looking for new career opportunities will be able to take advantage of the new health care jobs available."

To help ensure that Illinois is prepared for the growth in the health care jobs sector, the governor has directed the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck to lead a Health Care Workforce Workgroup. The workgroup will assess and plan for the jobs needed to achieve the goals of health care reform and meet the health needs of Illinois' growing, increasingly diverse and aging population.

The workgroup will assess the existing health care workforce landscape and develop an analysis of gaps that need to be filled both for current needs and the impending demand once hundreds of thousands of people gain access to health coverage as of January 1, 2014. The workgroup will recommend a workforce action plan by September 2013 to immediately address any gaps that are identified and to strengthen training and education efforts for health care jobs. In addition to IDPH, the workgroup includes the departments of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Health Care & Family Services, Aging, Financial & Professional Regulation, Employment Securities, Veteran's Affairs, Human Services and Children & Family Services with support from the UIC School of Medicine and participation from external stakeholders as needed.

"This is a tremendously exciting time to be working in the health care field," Dr Hasbrouck said. "By making health care affordable and accessible, we can shift our focus to keeping people healthy instead of just treating them when they become sick. This transformation is creating career opportunities for thousands of people. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Quinn, Illinois is doing everything in its power to identify our workforce needs and provide paths to training and education so these needs can be met."

The workgroup is an offshoot of the Health Care Reform Implementation Council that the governor created soon after President Obama signed the ACA into law on March 23, 2010. The Council, led by the governor's Senior Health Care Policy Adviser Michael Gelder, includes all of the state's health care and human services agencies.

Additionally, the Illinois Workforce Investment Board (IWIB) voted on March 14th, 2013 to re-constitute its Health Care Taskforce to develop a long-term strategic plan for a sustainable labor force in Illinois, which will meet the health care needs of its residents for years to come. The taskforce will allow for broader stakeholder engagement and build upon the current work of the Illinois Pathways, Health Sciences STEM Learning Exchange.

Governor Quinn demonstrated his commitment to creating health care jobs in February when he announced a $52.5 million investment in a new allied health addition at South Suburban College in South Holland. Supported by $41.6 million in funding from Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, the addition will dramatically expand opportunities for students in the south suburbs to pursue professional training for good-paying jobs in the health care field.

Illinois has received more than $250 million in federal funds to prepare for the full implementation of the ACA in 2014. Among the major steps it has taken are the following:

·         Conditional approval by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of a state-federal partnership, the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace that will start enrolling clients on October 1. The Marketplace will be accessed through a robust, user-friendly website where individuals, families and small businesses will be able to compare health care policies and premiums and purchase comprehensive health coverage.

·         Establishment of an Essential Health Benefits benchmark plan that spells out the benefits that must be covered for health plans on the Marketplace.

·         Received a $25 million Community Transformation Grant that is being used to fund the We Choose Health program designed to promote a healthy, active and tobacco-free lifestyle along with quality preventive and clinical care.

·         Received a $2 million federal grant that will advance efforts to develop a State Health Care Innovation Plan. The funding is intended to aid states that are working to design and implement improvements to their health care systems that will bolster health care quality and decrease costs.

Governor Quinn has also urged the House of Representatives to pass Senate Bill 26, which has already passed the Senate and will increase access to health care through the Medicaid program.

For more information on Illinois' implementation of the ACA, visit: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/healthcarereform/Pages/HealthReformImplementation.aspx.

###

PEORIA, Ill. (March 20, 2013) – Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, and eggs are hatching. It's spring, a time of renewal. For hospital patients in need of blood, hope for a fresh start comes from generous donors.

When Matt Deyo was a senior in high school, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumor. During his 14-month regimen of aggressive chemotherapy, he received more than 90 units of red blood cells and platelets.

"Being an 18-year-old cancer patient was difficult because my life suddenly took an unexpected detour," said Deyo, now cancer-free. "But going through that life-changing experience led me down an amazing path and helped me decide to pursue a medical career."

Spring into action and give hope by giving blood. You just might provide a fresh start for someone like Deyo. To make an appointment or for more information, visit redcrossblood.org.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County
April 1 from 12-5 p.m. at Chadwick Fire Department, 210 Calvert St. in Chadwick, Ill.

Clinton County
April 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashford University, 400 N. Bluff in Clinton, Iowa
April 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 147 Broadway St. in Charlotte, Iowa

Henry County
April 8 from 2-6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 108 N. Main in Annawan, Ill.
April 9 from 1:30-5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 201 First St. in Colona, Ill.
April 10 from 1:15-5:15 p.m. at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Mercer County
April 9 from 1-6:30 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 121 N. Meridian St. in New Windsor, Ill.

Scott County
April 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hy-Vee, 2200 W. Kimberly Road in Davenport, Iowa

Whiteside County
April 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Halo Branded Solutions, 1980 Industrial Drive in Sterling, Ill.
April 2 from 8-11 a.m. at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.
April 3 from 2-6 p.m. at Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.
April 4 from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.
April 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD 3, 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown, Ill.
April 9 from 1-5:15 p.m. at River Bend Senior Center, 912 Fourth St. in Fulton, Ill.
April 9 from 1:30-6 p.m. at Carlson Acupuncture & Chiropractic, 2317 E. Lincolnway in Sterling, Ill.
April 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sterling High School, 1608 Fourth Ave. in Sterling, Ill.
April 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rock Falls Blood Donation Center, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

How to donate blood
Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

###

Davenport, Iowa (March 2013) - Gilda's Club will host a dinner for Head and Neck Cancer patients - or those experiencing treatment related eating difficulties - and a guest.  A guest chef from Farraddays' will be on hand to prepare delicious yet easy to eat meals.  The opening message will be given by radition oncologist Dr. Christine Sharis.  The dinner will take place on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 5:30pm at Gilda's Club Quad Cities, 1234 East River Drive, Davenport.

Free of Charge.

Registration is required.  To register please call Gilda's Club at 563-326-7504.

Sponsored by Genesis Cancer Care Institute.

400 people die in Iowa every year from radon induced lung cancer, but lifesaving radon legislation is in danger of not passing the Iowa Senate.

We urgently need your help to save this bill.

Everyday kids go to school and breathe in this deadly gas. This bill would require testing in schools and help with the cost of mitigation so that our kids can learn in a healthy environment. It also adds radon requirements to new construction and creates an educational awareness fund to help Iowans learn more about the dangers of radon.

The entire state of Iowa is in an EPA Hazard Zone 1 for the highest potential threat of radon.

Will you contact your senator and tell them they need to put the heath of Iowans, especially our children, first?

We need your help today.