Springfield, Ill. – In order to meet a legislation approval deadline, State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said Senate lawmakers were busy this week approving almost 200 bills. Legislation ranged from measures to require greater oversight of state leases and more fair payments to the state’s vendors, to legislation that would improve health care for the state’s sickest patients and increase public oversight of early release inmates.

The Governor also signed Senate Bill 355, sponsored by Senator Righter, legislation that would cut the cost of elections, give elected officials more time to do their jobs and encourage better voter turnout. Senate Bill 355 moves Illinois’ primary election from the first Tuesday in February to the third Tuesday in March, in even-numbered years.

The state’s primary was moved from March to February several years ago to accommodate then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. According to the State Board of Elections, voter turnout this past February 2^nd primary was a dismal 23 percent. Lawmakers hope that moving the primary closer to the general election will save time and money, and improve voter turnout due to improved weather.

Also this week, Senator Righter said the Quinn administration was criticized for the Department of Health Care and Family Services’ (HFS) decision to renew a contract related to administering the state’s Medicaid dental plan without opening the contract up to the bidding process.

Springfield, Illinois—Legislation to restructure the manner in which terminally ill children on Medicaid are treated passed the Senate Thursday, March 18 according to sponsor State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon). If approved by the house and signed into law, the measure is expected to save taxpayers money and improve care for these children.

Senate Bill 2931 creates the Pediatric Palliative Care Act, an initiative that will allow for at-home care, including pediatric nursing for pain and symptom management, expressive therapies, counseling and many other forms of care, to children with terminal illnesses in their last days of life.  According to Senator Righter, not only will the children receive better care from the at-home services, Medicaid will also save nearly 15 percent on the cost of that care.

“In addition to providing patients with the care they need, this bill will also save Medicaid considerably,” explained Righter. “Children struggling with the symptoms of terminal illnesses need comprehensive care and can be treated at home. Through giving these children the at-home care necessary, Medicaid is able to save significant funds by reducing costly hospital stays.”

Programs such as that established in Senate Bill 2931 have been successful in other states. Colorado estimates that its pediatric palliative care programming for Medicaid beneficiaries will save the state $20,000 per year per patient.  Washington State experienced even greater savings, at approximately $40,000 per child.  

“The success of this type of program in other states is encouraging. Taxpayers stand to save a substantial amount of money, while improving the quality of care for terminally-ill children,” stated Righter. “I look forward to the passage of this legislation in the House and it being signed into law so that Illinois can offer this noteworthy program as well.” 

Righter’s legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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Springfield, Illinois—Illinois has seen its last February primary date for the time being as legislation sponsored by State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) was signed into law today by Governor Quinn. The new law moves the Illinois primary to the third Tuesday in March.

“I’m pleased with the speed with which this legislation passed and Governor Quinn acted upon,” said Righter. “Illinois voters will benefit from the change in several ways—most importantly voters will have more time to learn about the candidates.” 

Righter noted that the primary date was changed to February in 2007, a change which he opposed. The move was made at the direction of House Speaker Madigan (D-Chicago), who also serves as the chairman of the Democrat Party of Illinois, to help promote then United States Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy for president.

“Elections are a public process designed to serve our system of self-governance, not benefit a particular candidate or political party and does not take in consideration the needs of the voters,” state Righter.

The 2012 primary will be the next Illinois primary held on the third Tuesday in March.

Springfield, Illinois— Legislation that seeks to ensure that rural hospitals are not left out of critical Medicaid reimbursements passed the Illinois Senate Friday, March 12.  Sponsor of the legislation, State Senator Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), noted that Lawrence County Memorial Hospital will benefit from the proposed change.

Senate Bill 3264 requires reimbursement to critical access hospitals for outpatient Medicaid services. “Critical access” hospitals are the only hospitals in their communities, are at least several miles from the next nearest hospital, and serve large geographic regions of the state. Lawrence County Memorial Hospital is one of those 53 hospitals in Illinois.

“Rural hospitals deserve their share in Medicaid reimbursements,” stated Righter. “During a time when Chicago-area facilities often prioritized for reimbursements based on policies enacted in the last several years, it is important to ensure that downstate critical access hospitals like our own in Lawrence County are not forgotten.”

Senate Bill 3264 now proceeds to the Illinois House of Representatives for consideration.

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