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Gov's Medicaid Task Force Still Working on Plan

A bipartisan group tasked with finding ways to cut $2.7 billion from Illinois' Medicaid budget hasn't accomplished its mission.
Governor Pat Quinn's deadline required the two democrats and two republicans to come up with a plan this week, but they've only agreed on about $1.4 billion in cuts. The committee worked for months on ways to reform the health insurance program for nearly 3 million poor and disabled Illinoisans.  But they disagreed on potential ideas including rate cuts to providers and a potential $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase.

Quinn delivers his own plan Thursday. He's vowed that legislators must be prepared to pass Medicaid reforms this year. Democratic Senator Heather Steans says the group will continue working.   They've agreed on cutting Illinois Cares Rx, which helps senior citizens pay for prescriptions.

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