Judge Orders Illinois To Begin Paying Down The $2 Billion In Backlogged Medicaid Claims

On June 7, 2017, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by advocates representing the Medicaid service population served by the state’s managed care organizations (MCOs) that the State of Illinois must begin paying down the $2 billion in backlogged Medicaid payments. The state has operated without a budget for the past two fiscal years. The General Assembly adjourned on May 31 having failed to pass a budget. The Illinois Office of the Comptroller issued a statement acknowledging the court order, and stated that its attorneys would continue discussions with attorneys for the plaintiffs; the order gave them . . .