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91_SB1607
LRB9112657DJcdA
1 AN ACT to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code by adding
2 Section 12-4.36.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by
6 adding Section 12-4.36 as follows:
7 (305 ILCS 5/12-4.36 new)
8 Sec. 12-4.36. Health coverage outreach pilot program.
9 (a) The Department of Public Aid shall establish a
10 3-year health coverage outreach pilot program in the Chicago
11 metropolitan area. The purpose of the pilot program shall be
12 to refer persons for enrollment in various health-related
13 programs, such as KidCare and veterans programs, for which
14 they are eligible but not enrolled. The pilot program shall
15 target persons and their children who are not covered by
16 accident and health insurance, including, without limitation,
17 former TANF recipients, low-income employed persons,
18 immigrants, veterans who are not utilizing Veterans
19 Administration programs, and persons who are medically
20 uninsurable and unaware of the Illinois Comprehensive Health
21 Insurance Plan.
22 (b) The General Assembly recognizes that an effective
23 way to reach persons such as those described in subsection
24 (a) who are difficult to reach is through community
25 institutions that those persons trust the most, such as
26 churches, local schools, ethnic associations, and other
27 social groupings. The General Assembly further recognizes
28 that a comprehensive referral campaign such as this pilot
29 program should be done as a public-private partnership and
30 should include funding from both public and private sources
31 as well as the active participation of volunteers. The
-2- LRB9112657DJcdA
1 General Assembly acknowledges that the use of a toll-free
2 telephone number and a targeted media campaign are critical
3 to accessing and enrolling persons such as those described in
4 subsection (a).
5 (c) Because of the factors described in subsection (b),
6 the Department shall contract with a private not-for-profit
7 corporation to administer the pilot program. The corporation
8 must meet the following criteria:
9 (1) It must provide services throughout the Chicago
10 metropolitan area.
11 (2) It must be a citizens' organization whose board
12 of directors represents churches and other religious
13 organizations, insurers, hospitals, community health
14 centers, physicians' organizations, community
15 organizations, social service agencies, labor unions, and
16 government. Its board of directors must also include
17 individuals with substantial expertise in operating
18 large-scale call centers.
19 (3) It must have a commitment for private sector
20 financial support.
21 (d) The pilot program is terminated on June 30, 2003.
22 (e) Upon the conclusion of the pilot program, the
23 Department shall submit to the Governor and the General
24 Assembly a report on the results of the program.
25 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect on July
26 1, 2000.