Bad Blago!

Illinois County Judge Renews Ruling to Block Gov. Blagojevich's FamilyCare Expansion Initiative

Cook County, Ill., Judge James Epstein on Wednesday renewed an order prohibiting the state from making payments under a health coverage expansion enacted under an emergency order by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and said the state must outline how it will comply with the ruling, the AP/Chicago Tribune reports (Robinson, AP/Chicago Tribune, 10/15). Last month, the Illinois Appellate Court upheld an earlier decision that Blagojevich did not have the authority to expand the FamilyCare program without approval from the General Assembly (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 9/30).

Epstein refused to stay the order pending an appeal by the state and said the state has 14 days to explain how it intends to comply with the order. He said that people who gained coverage under the expansion "do not have a right to continue to receive coverage under this improperly promulgated program."

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services in a statement following Epstein's action said the agency is "currently reviewing the decision, but the governor is committed to making sure that these families continue to get the insurance they need" (AP/Chicago Tribune, 10/15).