Despite Budget Stalemate, Illinois Must Fund Medicaid Home Care Program

A U.S. district judge has ordered Illinois to fund its in-home Community Care Program (CCP) despite the state’s months-long failure to pass a budget.

U.S. District Court Judge Joan Lefkow ruled on September 16 that Illinois must fund CCP, a Medicaid waiver program that provides home care to more than 80,000 elders.

Lefkow said that even though the state had not passed a budget, it was obligated to fund CCP due to a “decades-old decree governing services under Medicaid,” the Associated Press reported.

Illinois’ fiscal year began July 1, but an ongoing dispute between Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) and the Democratic-controlled state legislature has prevented a budget from being enacted.

Due to the impasse, many public services have gone without funding, resulting in layoffs and even the closure of some social-service agencies, the AP reported.

Although Lefkow has ordered the state to begin funding CCP, it is not clear when those payments will begin.

Additionally, CCP services will be funded only for consumers who are eligible for Medicaid. A significant percentage of CCP participants receive services that are funded directly by the state; they are not covered by Lefkow’s order.

— by Matthew Ozga