Durbin: Illinois Must be Treated Fairly in Measure to Help Uninsured

DURBIN: ILLINOIS MUST BE TREATED FAIRLY IN MEASURE TO HELP UNINSURED

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the administrators of 20 state high-risk health insurance pools detailing his objections to legislation in the Senate (S. 288, the State High-Risk Pool Funding Extension Act) that would result in funding cuts for Illinois and other states with a large number of people without health insurance.

Durbin sent his letter in response to criticism leveled by the state administrators that he is blocking funding that would help the uninsured. The bill in question would reauthorize federal grants to states for the operation of high-risk pools. High-risk pools provide health insurance for individuals with medical conditions that make it impossible for them to qualify for coverage in the regular market.

"The new bill cuts funding to states with large numbers of uninsured people, such as Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland and Oklahoma, and increases funding to states with a smaller number of uninsured Americans," wrote Durbin. "There is no reason a state like Illinois that has 1.8 million people lacking access to health insurance should suffer a funding cut of 60 percent while a state like South Dakota with 90,000 uninsured people sees its funding more than double. The money should follow the people in need, not be determined by politics."

Durbin noted that he has made several attempts this year to reach out to senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to negotiate a formula that is more fair to Illinois and the larger states. "I have approached them with three separate ideas for a compromise, only to be rebuffed each time," Durbin wrote. "I would welcome your assistance in reaching out to the HELP leadership to shape a fair compromise."

"The funds that Illinois will lose with the formula in S. 288 could fund insurance for hundreds of Illinoisans and I stand by them," wrote Durbin.

Durbin also called on the state administrators to work with him in his efforts to secure funds for the existing program. The state high-risk pools have not received any federal funding in two years. Earlier this year, Durbin attempted to offer an amendment to the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education appropriations bill that would fund the state-high risk pools, but was not able to find a suitable offset for the money.

When the Labor-HHS appropriations bill comes to the Senate floor later this year, Durbin will offer an amendment to fund the state high-risk pools.

Full text of Durbin's letter to the state high-risk pool administrators follows:

September 15, 2005

Dear_____:

I received a copy of the letter you sent to Majority Leader Bill Frist regarding the high-risk pool legislation. I am writing to clarify my position, which you mis-characterized in your letter. I have worked to improve the health care system in our country so that it does not leave people "uninsurable." However, until we achieve coverage for all Americans regardless of age, gender, sex, race, class and health status, I am supportive of the role high-risk pools play in helping sick and disabled Americans find coverage in our current system.

When the Department of Health and Human Services awarded its first high-risk pool grants in December of 2003, then-Secretary Tommy Thompson hailed the program, saying, "getting health insurance to the uninsured has been a high priority of the Bush Administration. These grants will make it more affordable for states to expand access to health care through high-risk pools for the uninsured." Well, the re-authorization of the high-risk pool legislation does not accomplish this goal for my state or other states with high numbers of people who lack access to health insurance.

The new bill cuts funding to states with large numbers of uninsured people, such as Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland and Okalahoma, and increases funding to states with a smaller number of uninsured Americans. There is no reason a state like Illinois, with 1.8 million people lacking access to health insurance, should suffer a funding cut of 60 percent while a state like South Dakota with 90,000 uninsured people sees its funding more than double. The money should follow the people in need, not be determined by politics.

Your letter tells Senator Frist I have "blocked" S.288. This is not accurate. I have made numerous attempts to negotiate with the leadership of the HELP Committee to find an acceptable compromise. I have approached them with three separate ideas for a compromise, only to be rebuffed each time. I firmly support providing health insurance to those who are most in need. That is why I am working hard to protect Illinois in the re-authorization of this program. I would welcome your assistance in reaching out to the HELP leadership to shape a fair compromise.

Finally, your letter mentions the urgency of passing this legislation because the House seed grant funding will expire in October 2005. In fact, there have been no funds appropriated for high-risk pools in either the House or the Senate appropriations process for two years. I attempted to include money in the high-risk pool program when the Labor/HHS Appropriations bill was in Subcommittee, but I was unable to find an acceptable offset given these difficult fiscal times. If we cannot come to a compromise on the funding formula in the authorization bill, I invite you to join me in attempting to add money to the existing high-risk pool bill when the Labor/HHS appropriations bill comes to the Senate floor later this fall.

In closing, I can not stand by and allow a formula to pass that will deprive states with high numbers of uninsured the funding they need to provide coverage in their high-risk programs. The funds that Illinois will lose with the formula in S.288 could fund insurance for hundreds of Illinoisans and I stand by them.

Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=245828&&