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Members of a state rulemaking oversight committee voiced concerns Tuesday that Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration didn’t sufficiently seek public input on its plan to cap enrollment in Medicaid-like health care programs for noncitizens.
The controversy centers on the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors programs, which provide health care benefits to low-income noncitizens who would qualify for Medicaid benefits if not for their citizenship status. […]
JCAR – which consists of six Democrats and six Republicans and is responsible for overseeing policy making within the state’s executive branch – didn’t take action on either the emergency or permanent rules Tuesday, although the committee can still take action at a future meeting. […]
Sen. Bill Cunningham, a Chicago Democrat and co-chair of JCAR, said the committee was frustrated at the lack of stakeholder engagement from several agencies. JCAR also discussed a controversial emission rule change for heavy industries Tuesday, objecting to two state agencies’ hurried implementation process. […]
Cunningham said the committee will “likely” have another discussion about the health care rules next month.
* Scott Holland breaks down what actions are available to JCAR…
The JCAR can take three actions. The first is essentially powerless, as it merely indicates the committee has concerns. The others are comparative sledgehammers.
An objection indicates the committee finds rules inconsistent with state law, has bad economic effects on small businesses, municipalities or nonprofit organizations or calls into question the rule-making process or the validity of the emergency. The agency has 90 days to respond, and any modification lasts for the rest of the 150-day window.
The committee also can add a suspension to its objection, stopping enforcement unless the committee withdraws its decision. This outcome indicates members find the rule contrary to the public interest, safety or welfare.
* Pritzker defended the move last month via the Tribune…
“We need to make sure that we’re living within our fiscal limits within the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said Monday during an unrelated event at Chicago’s Union Station. “That’s something that wasn’t done for a number of years in Illinois.”
The second-term Democrat, who campaigned for reelection as a progressive who supports providing health care and other services regardless of immigration status, pointed to the budget pressures a day after telling reporters at a Pride Parade event that members of the state legislature’s Latino caucus “knew exactly what we were doing.”
“And in fact, what we have done, and it’s in part because of their advocacy, is we’ve saved the program to provide health care for undocumented immigrants,” Pritzker said Sunday. “And it’s a paused program that I hope and intend to expand.”
Among those criticizing the governor’s actions, which include closing enrollment July 1 for people under 65 who are currently eligible and capping enrollment for people 65 and older, was U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, a Chicago Democrat. In a statement earlier this month, Garcia said that the moves by Pritzker were “wrong and will have life-and-death consequences.”
posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 1:53 pm
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The passed a law to give him the tools to do what he did and now they are complaining that he actually did it.
As for working with the stakeholders, the stakeholders have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want any limitations put on the program. So what exactly did JCAR think they would get out of involving the stakeholders?
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 3:08 pm
Sounds like political grand standing at its best. They all voted to give the administration the power to do what it did and now pretend for the advocates that they are mad.
Comment by Capitol Observer Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 3:44 pm
Hollow criticism unless they’ve got a plan for how to pay for a more expansive program.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jul 20, 23 @ 3:47 pm