Quinn creates Illinois health innovation office

Gov. Pat Quinn has created a new state office to oversee changes in health care, including efforts to expand the workforce and restructure services for people with disabilities.

Quinn’s office announced Thursday that the new Office of Health Innovation and Transformation will replace the existing Office of Health Information Technology.

The new office within the governor’s office will be in charge of carrying out recommendations from a state-led group of health policy leaders, health care providers, insurers and others called the Alliance for Health.

The new office also will work on a proposal that will be submitted to the federal government next month for changes to the state’s Medicaid program. The governor’s office says the proposal would give needed flexibility in spending on care for the poor and disabled.