Quinn names Hamos as healthcare director

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Friday named veteran state Rep. Julie Hamos as the new director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the agency that oversees the state's Medicaid program.

Hamos will replace Barry Maram, who was appointed to the post by ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Hamos' job is effective April 16, but her appointment still must be confirmed by the Illinois Senate.

Once she's on the job, Hamos said her focus will be on looking at ways to reform the state's Medicaid system and implementing the new national health care reforms passed by Congress.

"We will showcase Illinois as the place where we will get it right," said Hamos, a 61-year-old Democrat from Evanston who has been a state representative since 1999.

The job gives Hamos a place to land. She lost a primary bid for Congress in February and her term as a state representative was going to be up in January.

Quinn said he needs someone like Hamos at the agency because she cares about families, is committed to health care issues and knows the importance of working with Washington. Hamos has sponsored a number of health care-related measures in the General Assembly, including those that created a health care consumer guide and an electronic medical records task force.

"Julie is a very articulate advocate for decent health care for everyone," Quinn said.

Hamos' salary will be $142,000, according to Quinn's office. Maram, who was appointed when Blagojevich took office in early 2003, earned $142,340. The new job is a substantial boost for Hamos whose salary as a lawmaker was about $76,000 last year.

Under Maram, the agency started Blagojevich's health insurance program to cover all children, but came under fire for Blagojevich's attempt to unilaterally extend subsidized health care. Maram's agency also was praised for its aggressive collection of overdue child support payments.

Local Democratic leaders will name Hamos' replacement in the Illinois House.

Robyn Gabel, who heads the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition, won the February Democratic primary for Hamos' seat.

State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, an Evanston Democratic committeeman, said he expects no opposition to naming Gabel to replace Hamos. Democratic leaders are expected to vote on Hamos' replacement April 18.