Vote was just a start for nursing homes

The Health Care Council of Illinois, the state's largest nursing home association, would like to thank members of Illinois' congressional delegation who voted to extend Medicaid aid to the states, including Illinois. This crucial funding will protect the health and well-being of thousands of elderly and disabled individuals living in Illinois nursing homes.

Without this critical funding extension, Illinois nursing homes most likely would have faced funding cuts that would have put the well-being of thousands of nursing home residents in danger and would have jeopardized thousands of caregivers' jobs.

The U.S. House passed HR 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, by a 247-161 vote. The Senate also passed the bill, and President Obama quickly signed the legislation into law. This important legislation provides approximately $550 million in additional Medicaid funding to Illinois.

HCCI would like to thank Sen. Durbin and Burris and Reps. Rush, Jackson, Lipinski, Gutierrez, Quigley, Davis, Bean, Schakowsky, Halvorson, Costello, Foster and Hare. These legislators protected some of our state's most vulnerable citizens including our children, disabled and elderly citizens.

HCCI urges our governor and state legislators to provide adequate allocation of emergency FMAP funds to our state's long-term care facilities. These funds will strengthen our state's safety net of care for the 100,000 individuals, along with protecting 80,000 caregiver jobs.

While the extension of Medicaid funding provides an important lifeline to states, it does not solve the larger funding crisis that plagues Illinois' long-term care system. Currently, Illinois nursing homes are, on average, underreimbursed nearly $30 per resident per day for every resident on Medicaid in their care. Two-thirds of nursing home residents are on Medicaid.

We all must work together at both the state and federal levels to ensure adequate funding for Illinois nursing homes.

Pat Comstock

Executive Director

Health Care Council of Illinois

Springfield