Controversial Task Force Needs “To Be Transparent”

CHICAGO – Speaking to veteran Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson on “The Sunday Spin” on WGN Radio yesterday, Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin) warned against “privatization for the sake of privatization,” an apparent goal of a controversial task force that was initially created to strengthen and protect the Community Care Program (CCP) of home healthcare for some 100,000 seniors of lower incomes.

Rep. Moeller was asked about the recent removal of AARP Illinois and SEIU Healthcare Illinois by the Rauner administration from the task force created in a bipartisan budget compromise this summer as an alternative to the $120 million in cuts to CCP sought by Gov. Rauner.

“Not including (AARP and SEIU Healthcare Illinois) as part of the task force is a detriment to the process…We need to be transparent,” she said.

Rep. Moeller also objected to any changes in the program that would force seniors out of their home and into costlier nursing facilities, a risk introduced by the massive cuts and privatization moves initially sought by the Rauner administration.

“If you can keep people in their homes…that’s the goal of the state,” she said.

You can listen to a clip of the Community Care Program discussion here.

You can listen to the entire episode of “The Sunday Spin” here.