INDEPENDENCE LOST: New Report Reveals Threats Posed by Rauner Plan to Drastically Cut Home Care for Illinois Seniors

36,000 seniors remain in limbo as advocates call on Administration to WITHDRAW HARMFUL RULES

Chicago – Alzheimer’s Association Illinois, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Illinois Council of Case Coordination Units, Caring Across Generations, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, and SEIU Healthcare Illinois released a new report that further illustrates concerns and problems that plague Governor Bruce Rauner’s proposed Community Reinvestment Program (CRP), a controversial initiative that aims to force 36,000 vulnerable Illinois seniors out of the successful Community Care Program (CCP) via a $120 million cut.

Under the CRP, seniors currently receiving critical home care services through the CCP who are not enrolled in Medicaid would see their trusted caregivers replaced with a patchwork of replacement services like Uber drivers, housekeeping and laundry services, and meal vouchers.
Despite the General Assembly’s rejection of the CRP in bipartisan fashion during the recent budget vote, the Rauner administration has yet to withdraw the rule changes through the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).

The new report warns of adverse outcomes to seniors, caregivers, and families if the Rauner rules are approved. Further, it highlights the increased cost to taxpayers as seniors are forcibly relocated to nursing home care when unable to navigate the untested and unproven program.
With new research in hand, advocates have renewed calls for the Rauner administration to withdraw the proposed CRP rules, and for the newly created DOA Community Care Program Services Task Force to heed warnings laid out in the research when developing recommendations to ensure that the targeted 36,000 seniors, many of whom cycle in and out of poverty and Medicaid, can remain in their homes and communities with dignity.