Triage this patient in need of a cure

A state audit of a program created by Rod Blagojevich to boost health insurance coverage for children found alarming waste and mismanagement.

People were getting benefits and care even though they were not within the proper age parameters for the All Kids health insurance program, auditors said in a report recently released. No one was verifying whether many of the children receiving care actually lived in Illinois. There were conflicting guidelines as to what families and what income levels qualified for care. Some of those covered with state tax dollars could have and should have been covered with federal health care funds, auditors said.

That's not all. Senior State Government Editor John Patterson reported claims were paid for families who had not paid their premiums. There was no accounting for a multimillion-dollar promotional campaign for the program. Children whose family made twice the income that is the threshold for the federal poverty level got care. So did many thousands of undocumented immigrants. Midway through last year, 71,665 children were enrolled in the All Kids program, but 75 percent of them were listed as undocumented immigrants - though auditors warned the data is so error riddled the numbers cannot be fully trusted.

In this time of near bankruptcy in Illinois, perhaps the most distressing numbers are these: Illinois took in $8.9 million in premiums but spent $79.1 million on health care claims.

Blagojevich has been out of the governor's office for nearly 11/2 years. So, while this program was his creation, all elected officials now must work to rid us of this massive waste.

While the goal of ensuring health care for poor and underprivileged children is one we support, Illinois cannot afford to bleed money any longer.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn recently named former legislator Julie Hamos of Evanston to take over the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services that oversees the All Kids program. She has quite a job ahead of her.

And this one example ought to help all elected officials understand part of the reason taxpayers distrust them in all budget matters and are especially hesitant to support any tax increases.

Plainly, this is proof Illinois government is not working well. Money is being wasted and health care services are going to people who don't qualify for them.

Told of the audit findings, state Sen. Carole Pankau, an Itasca Republican, called the lack of accountability "sad."

It's more than sad. It's unjustifiable.

Quinn, Democratic House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and the rest of our legislators must fix this. They must convince residents they have stopped this kind of bleeding.