Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s draft of the state’s five year plan “The Path to Transformation” would allow the state to obtain $5.2 billion in federal funds to modernize the healthcare infrastructure and services and lower long-term costs. The State is requesting federal matching funds for about $1 billion annually for five years for services that are currently funded solely through state resources.
The five year plan developed by the state’s Alliance for Health, a state-led group of health policy leaders, providers, insurers, and other stakeholders was convened by the Governor last year. The recommendations included in the plan are known as the “federal 1115 Waiver demonstration project.”
The proposed plan would help people with disabilities and mental health challenges receive care in their own homes and communities. The state would be able to consolidate nine separate existing programs that serve populations with special needs and run by various state agencies.
The plan is organized around four pathways to health that includes transformation and modernization of the delivery system to create patient-centered health homes, focus on prevention, primary care, and wellness, build up the workforce, and rebuild and expand the state’s home and community-based infrastructure especially for those with complex health and behavioral health needs.
The waiver application is being led by the state’s Office of Health Innovation and Transformation on behalf of several state agencies including the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Human Services, Department of Public Health Department of Children and Family Services, and the Department on Aging.
Also, to meet the needs of entrepreneurs to grow new companies, the Governor has announced that a new startup center for next generation healthcare technology companies to be called MATTER, will operate as a not-for-profit organization and be located in Chicago.
The Center will provide companies with collaborative workspace to allow entrepreneurs, academics, and investors to interact to create and grow new companies in health IT, medical devices, medical diagnostics, and biopharmaceuticals.
The state’s funding package, administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity consists of a $2.5 million state investment and a loan of $1.5 million that will provide seed funding support for the project.