[SeniorTaskForce-News] FW: Policy Alert - Motion for Override of HB 366 Illinois Cares Rx to Be Filed

[Rosanna McLain]

Senior Task Force Members:

Please see the information below and act as you feel you should.  

Understand that the Governor's amendatory veto would make Illinois Cares
Rx availability subject to funding and there is a $40 million reduction
in Illinois Cares RX in the Governor's current budget.

Rosanna

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael O'Donnell [mailto:MODonnell at eciaaa.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:54 AM
To: Rosanna McLain; Darlene Kloeppel; vchristensen at ccrpc.org;
deeb at colescouncilonaging.org; Kathryn Johnson; Amy Reeser;
peace at vermilionseniors.com; Diane Drew; lesstanberry at comcast.net
Subject: FW: Policy Alert - Motion for Override of HB 366 Illinois Cares
Rx to Be Filed

Please contact your Illinois Senators and Representatives and urge them
to support a motion to override the Governor's amendatory veto of HB366
to ensure the continuation of Illinois Cares Rx coverage for Illinois
Seniors in the 2010 program year.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael O'Donnell 
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:57 AM
To: Alexandra Cooney; Dave Skora (dskora at cityofchicago.org); Deborah
Kuiken (debbie at midlandaaa.org); Diane Slezak; Janet Ellis; Janice
Stille; Joanne Thomas; John Smith; Jon Lavin; Joy Paeth; Joyce Gallagher
(mjoycegallagher at cityofchicago.org); Julie Hubbard; Lucia Jones; Lynn
Niewohner (info at wciagingnetwork.org); Todd Shakelford; Yvonne
Cc: Heather Mulder; Tami Wacker; Susan Real; Susan Evens; Sara Wilham;
Phillip Rodgers; Billie Paige; Mark Kolaz
Subject: FW: Policy Alert - Motion for Override of HB 366 Illinois Cares
Rx to Be Filed

TO:	Illinois Senior Statesmen
FM:	Mike O'Donnell, I4A Legislative Committee Chair
RE:	Override Amendatory Veto of HB366

Advocates for Illinois Seniors are urged to call Members of the Illinois
General Assembly to pass a motion to override the Governor's veto of
HB366.  

The Governor's amendatory veto subject the Circuit Breaker program and
Illinois Cares Rx pharmaceutical program to appropriations.  

The Governor's budget currently calls for a $40 million reduction in
spending for Illinois Cares Rx.  Although HFS has not announced any
changes to the program at this time, the State's financial condition may
likely require cutbacks to the program later in the fiscal year.  The
new program year for Circuit Breaker and Illinois Cares Rx begins
January 1, 2010.  

Please contact your State Senators and Representatives and urge them to
override the Governor's amendatory veto of HB 366.

-----Original Message-----
From: Cardenas, Gerardo F. [mailto:GFcardenas at aarp.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 5:12 PM
To: Vinkler, David; Aaron; Barbra Wylie; Bob Thieman; Carol Aronson;
Carolyn Guthman; Cindy Cunningham; Danette Wade; Danielle; Darby
Anderson; Dave Lowitzki; David Stricklin; Emma Cain; Gruenenfelder,
Ryan; Gustavo Saberbein; IACCPHP; Henshaw, Ilene; Jan Costello; Janel
Landon; Jason Speaks; Jessica Angus; Joe Curnow; Jonathan Lavin; Joseph
Hart; jrrhodes60 at hotmail.com; Judy Buchanan; Karen Freda; Karen
Schainker; Kathy Weiman; Kerri Pendley; Kimberley Cox; Kristen Pavle;
Laura Bass; Linda Seyler; Lori Clark; lspbob at earthlink.net; Lucia Jones;
Marcia Rothenberg; Marianne Brennan; Marta Pereyra; McDermott, Jennifer;
Micah Roderick; Michael O'Donnell; Mkarner at progresscil.org; Nancy
Flowers; Nelson, Nancy S.; Pat Stacey Cohen; Petie Hunter; Phyllis
Mitzen; Ralph; Ryan Noth; Shanty Edwards; Sitar, Paula; Stephanie
Altman; Stuart Gaines; Tom Wilson; Underwood, Heather; Wayne Landon;
Wendy Meltzer; Ziv Sabin
Subject: FW: Policy Alert - Motion for Override of HB 366 Illinois Cares
Rx to Be Filed

As you know, Governor Quinn issues an amendatory veto on House Bill 366,
putting thousands of low-income Medicare beneficiaries at risk of losing
their prescription drug coverage through the Illinois Cares Rx program.
As the veto session starts tomorrow, we want folks to call their
legislators and urge them to override Quinn's veto on HB 366. HB 366 was
sponsored by Rep. Jack Franks and passed both chambers unanimously!

We need to urge legislators to action to help ensure thousands of
Medicare beneficiaries have affordable access to the prescription drugs
they need.

Gerardo F. Cardenas
Associate State Director - Communications
AARP Illinois
W: 312-458-3609
F: 312-372-2204
C: 312-351-0228
gfcardenas at aarp.org
 

Demand action and answers on 
health care and lifetime financial security.  
Go to www.DividedWeFail.org


________________________________________
From: Stephanie Altman
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:53 PM
To: John Coburn; bigmmw; Benefits Summit
Subject: Policy Alert - Motion for Override of HB 366 Illinois Cares Rx
to Be Filed

On Friday, August 14, 2009, Governor Quinn subjected HB 366 to an
amendatory veto.   HB 366, which passed unanimously through both
chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, creates one Illinois Cares Rx
benefit for all Medicare beneficiaries.    HB 366 assures comprehensive
and affordable access to necessary medications for all lower income
Medicare beneficiaries. Chief Sponsor, Rep. Jack Franks, will bring a
motion tomorrow asking the General Assembly to override the veto on the
bill.

The Make Medicare Work Coalition supports the original bill which passed
the legislature unanimously and which would create one program for all
beneficiaries. The MMW Coalition is concerned that the changes made
through the amendatory veto will jeopardize the entire Illinois Cares Rx
Program in particular by subjecting the whole program to available
appropriations only.

Please show your support by contacting your legislator and letting them
know that you support the Illinois Cares Rx program created by HB 366
and that you urge the General Assembly to override the veto of the bill.

Thank you and, if you have any questions or need more information,
please feel free to contact me,


Stephanie


Stephanie F. Altman
Programs and Policy Director
Health & Disability Advocates
205 W. Monroe Street, Suite 300
Chicago, Il 60606
312-265-9070