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Health
Care Council of Illinois
Illinois Health Care Association
Illinois Council on Long Term Care
For
Immediate Release
January 10, 2008
State’s
Leading Long-Term Care Associations Praise State Budget
-- Funding Critical for Nursing Home Residents
The
Illinois Health Care Association and the Illinois
Council on Long Term Care today praised the passage of
the state budget, saying it is critical in providing
quality care for the state’s elderly and sick
residents living in nursing homes.
“We
applaud the legislature and governor for doing the right
thing and passing this budget. Nothing is more important
than the lives of our residents. This much needed
funding allows our providers to continue to provide the
highest quality care for this special population,”
said IHCA Executive Director David Voepel. “Nursing
homes not only provide sophisticated clinical care to
their residents, but also are responsible for the
quality and safety of their lives.”
The
General Assembly has passed budget implementation
legislation, which is vital to long-term care providers
because it authorizes the state Department of Healthcare
and Family Services to distribute new funds toward a
nursing home rate increase effective January 1.
Long-term care facilities operate under a statutory rate
freeze.
The
budget bill passed today (Thursday) accompanies various
Human Services components of the state’s FY08 budget
passed earlier. It will help provide funding for
services for a system based on residents’ needs.
The
governor amended the bill, previously passed by both
chambers of the General Assembly. The Senate earlier
approved those technical changes and the House Thursday
agreed, giving final approval to the legislation.
“This
funding is necessary to provide quality care for
residents throughout Illinois,” said Terry Sullivan,
executive director of the Illinois Council on Long Term
Care.
The
legislation includes:
- 2.5%
COLA, annualized, for all DD providers
- $50
million, annualized, for the second phase of the MDS
reimbursement implementation
- $100
million, annualized, to update the cost reports to
the 2004 level.
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The
IHCA is a non-profit organization comprised of more than
500 licensed and certified long-term care facilities and
programs throughout the state, including DD services,
Assisted Living and Geriatric/Nursing facilities.
Founded in 1950, IHCA is the largest long-term care
association in Illinois.
The
Illinois Council on Long Term Care is a professional
association representing more than 22,000 long-term care
professionals and caregivers serving 30,000 residents
receiving care and treatment in more than 150 nursing
homes in Illinois.
The
Health Care Council of Illinois is an organization
founded in 2007 to promote the joint public policy and
legislative efforts of IHCA and ICLTC.
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