PEORIA, IL – As part of an effort to make sure that all seniors have access to quality healthcare, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) passed legislation that will allow community care providers continue to be a healthcare option for seniors.

“The state is facing serious fiscal challenges right now,” said Gordon-Booth. “In an effort to be more fiscally responsible, the state has begun to focus on placing seniors in community care programs instead of traditional and more costly nursing homes. The reforms in this bill will help ensure that the growing number of seniors in Illinois can receive quality healthcare.”

Gordon-Booth was appointed to the Governor’s bi-partisan working group that developed the cost-saving components of this bill. Community care providers (CPPs) can provide healthcare services to seniors for $8,000 a year, compared to $32,000 a year for traditional nursing homes. Unfortunately, community care providers have been historically underfunded and providers are currently facing a backlog of more than $170 million that threatens to put providers across the state out of business. House Bill 2275 institutes a number of reforms that will reduce the costs of the programs and preserve the existing program.

The reforms will require greater use of technology to streamline reporting and data sharing between state agencies. Also, included in the bill are reforms that will allow CCPs to take advantage of more matching funds from the federal government. The bill also has oversight provisions that ensures state agencies complete the reforms within the timeframe provided.

“I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with my colleagues on this legislation,” said Gordon-Booth. “We need more bi-partisan solutions to help solve the problems in Illinois. This legislation provides quality healthcare, reduces overall costs to the state, and helps create jobs in our community.”

The House of Representatives also passed an appropriations bill that would help pay down the past due bills for community care providers. For more information, please contact Rep. Gordon-Booth’s constituent services office at (309) 558-3612 or repjgordon@gmail.com.