Speaker Madigan Sponsors Cicero Summit 

on State Finances and the Budget

Nursing Home Spokesperson to Address Funding Crisis in Long Term Care

WHAT:            Spokesperson Mary Ann Wright, representing the Illinois Council on Long Term Care, will provide testimony about the ongoing Medicaid funding crisis for Illinois nursing homes during Speaker Madigan’s Summit on State Finances and the Budget. While Illinois has one of the nation’s ten largest economies, it still ranks among the three lowest states in the nation for nursing home Medicaid funding. Two-thirds of all Illinois nursing home residents depend on the Medicaid program for their care, totaling more than 57,000 individuals. Illinois’ chronic underfunding is placing the health and well-being of these elderly citizens at risk.

WHY:               Medicaid accounts for 26.8 percent of the total state budget. For the past two decades, Illinois nursing homes have been surviving hand-to-mouth with their inadequate Medicaid funding levels. During the past 10 years, costs at Illinois nursing homes have risen 67 percent, while Medicaid funding has only increased by 31 percent. This disparity makes it extremely difficult for facilities to attract and retain staff; provide effective health care treatments; and meet the quality of life needs of the resident they serve. The time has come for the state to take drastic action in changing the ways it finances its nursing home Medicaid program. 

WHO:              Representative Michelle Chavez, D-24, Cicero and Senator Martin Sandoval,
D-12, Chicago will host the summit. It is expected that dozens of the near west suburbs’ community and business leaders will attend this meeting to discuss the future of the Illinois budget. 

WHERE:          PSO Building, 5410 W. 34^th Street, Cicero 

WHEN:             Monday, March 14, 2005 from 6 p.m. -9 p.m.

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