State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is working to create a task force to monitor federal health care reforms and make recommendations to the governor and General Assembly if legislative or administrative changes are needed.
“Federal health care reform has been a pressing issue for months, and we are seeing signs that Congress may pass legislation soon,” Koehler said. “We need to be ready if this reform passes. It will most likely require us to make policy changes at the state level.”
Senate Bill 3047 creates the Health Care Justice Implementation Task Force. This task force will study new federal health care laws to identify any changes that may be needed in state law or administrative policies.
The task force is modeled on Adequate Health Care Task Force that was created in 2004. It will have 29 members-five appointed by the governor and six appointed by each of the legislative leaders. These members will represent health care professionals, members of the insurance industry, labor leaders, business interests, and other concerned parties. They will work together to provide a report to the governor and General Assembly by March 2012.
“It takes time to create a task force, conduct hearings and gather information, and issue a report,” Koehler said. “I participated in the Adequate Health Care Task Force, and a similar group will do an excellent job of preparing Illinois for significant health care reforms.”
The Health Care Justice Implementation Task Force will only be created if federal reforms pass.
“This legislation is all about being ready,” Koehler said. “We need to make health care available to every citizen of Illinois, and we need to do it soon. Everyday, uninsured Illinoisans face overwhelming challenges and cost hospitals thousands of dollars. If federal health care reform helps the uninsured, we need to be ready to implement it quickly and well.”
Senate Bill 3047 has passed the Illinois Senate and now awaits consideration in the House.
