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Suburban lawmaker to head Department of Healthcare and Family Services

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday appointed Hinsdale Republican State Rep. Patti Bellock to head up the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, a move that could affect the candidates running for her seat.

Bellock's appointment becomes effective July 11 and her replacement is expected to be chosen in the coming weeks by DuPage Republican officials. That person will serve the remainder of the term, which expires in January.

It's likely the person chosen will be Deanna Mazzochi, the Republican seeking to win Bellock's 47th District seat. Mazzochi is an Elmhurst attorney and chairwoman of the College of DuPage board of trustees.

Her opponent is Democrat Jim Caffrey of Elmhurst, who left his post as a customer team manager for Clorox to focus on the campaign.

Bellock, a deputy minority leader, in 2017 announced plans to leave the House. She will replace interim DHFS Director Teresa Hursey, who took over when the agency's head Felicia Norwood left for a private-sector position.

Bellock has long been an advocate for health care, Medicaid and social services, the governor said.

"She has been instrumental in virtually every health advancement our state has made in the last decades," Rauner said in a statement.

Bellock served for 20 years in the House and said managing Illinois' Medicaid system dovetailed with efforts throughout her career to reform and improve the program.

"My No. 1 goal is to make sure the system serves the people it needs to serve and gives the highest quality health care to the most fragile population of Illinois," Bellock said in an interview Monday.

A new managed-care program for Medicaid recipients will provide a "medical home" and family physician for those patients resulting in a new level of wellness and prevention care, Bellock said.

Previously, "the majority of people in Medicaid received a lot of health care in emergency rooms,"

The 47th District covers all or portions of Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, Lombard, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, Westmont and Lombard.

• Daily Herald DuPage County Editor Bob Smith contributed to this report.

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