A federal judge in Chicago Wednesday delayed a ruling on whether the state of Illinois should speed up hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid payments during the budget impasse.
Two years ago - Judge Joan Lefkow mandated the state to pay for Medicaid during the budget impasse.But now - doctors and insurance companies who serve low income patients say the state is so late in paying that it’s in violation of the judge’s order.
They want the judge to move Medicaid to the front of Illinois’ long line of unpaid bills.
But attorneys for the state said if that happens...then payroll, schools, pensions, debt payments - all get moved down.
The judge delayed making a decision for a week…
But she said it doesn’t seem right that Medicaid payments are being de-prioritized.
As the hearing ended - the judge told the state’s attorneys - quote - “I don’t envy you.”