What’s Increasingly on the Mind of Illinois Residents? Health Care, Economy, Bankruptcy–Suicide

(Chicago, IL) – Illinois residents are increasingly thinking about health care, the economy, bankruptcy, and, more grimly, suicide. In fact, in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, among those topics, suicide is the number one subject on their mind.

Google Search Trends in Illinois (last 12 months): Suicide (light blue), Suicide Bombing (green), Health Care (red) Economy (blue), Bankruptcy (gold)--November 25, 2008

According to a Google Trends term search, today, November 25, the search terms “suicide”, “economy”, “bankruptcy”, and “health care” coming from Illinois residents over the last 12 months began escalating in August 2008 (see chart, right). During November, “bankruptcy” and “suicide” have followed the same upward trajectory.

Google Trends uses IP address information from its server logs to make a best guess about where queries originated.

To avoid potentially confusing overlap, the term “suicide bombing” was searched to control for interest in and news media reporting on international terrorist incidents. The search results for this term among Illinois residents was negligible.

Alarmingly, between November 20 and November 23, Illinois searches of “economy”, “health care” and “bankruptcy” dropped, but “suicide” spiked (see chart).

Google Search Trends in Illinois (last 30 days): Suicide (light blue), Suicide Bombing (green), Health Care (red) Economy (blue), Bankruptcy (gold)--November 25, 2008

What are the top 10 Illinois communities searching for the term “suicide” according to Google Trends?

1. Evanston
2. Urbana
3. West Chicago
4. Champaign
5. Naperville
6. Moline
7. Springfield
8. Elmhurst
9. Chicago
10. Peoria

The Google Trends charts also reflect news media references (bottom of chart) to the terms being searched. In the case of the “economy”, the upward trend line of news media references to the economy track the online search of the “economy”. In the case of “suicide”, news media references are scarce, but Illinois search interest in “bankruptcy” and “suicide” rival “economy” search interest. Little news, but a lot of interest.

Illinois residents appear to be signaling their anxiety. But is anyone listening?

Fortunately, Governor Rod Blagojevich recently boosted behavioral health care funding. Blagojevich signed legislation on November 20 to restore $8 million to the state’s mental health care budget and $55 million to the substance abuse treatment budget which were cut earlier this year.

However, in the days and months to come, Illinois officials should be looking not only at economic data to address the crisis in Illinois, they should also pay be paying attention to what’s on the mind of Illinois residents, too.

Governor Blagojevich Threatens Budget Cuts to HIV/AIDS Testing, Drugs

(Chicago, IL) — Among the $1.5 billion of budget cuts that Governor Rod Blagojevich threatens in the open-ended slug-fest with the legislature is $1.5 million for HIV/AIDS testing and medication.

Unless the Illinois House of Representatives led by the Governor’s arch nemesis Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) approves assorted revenue raising schemes demanded by Governor Blagojevich, the Governor will cut:

• HIV/AIDS medication for approximately 100-200 through the AIDS drug assistance program because there will be no funding to expand eligibility–$1,000,000

• HIV/AIDS testing and links to healthcare for 10,000 uninsured residents who are unaware of their HIV status–$500,000

Without medication, people infected by the HIV/AIDS virus tend to, well, die. Without testing, people infected by the HIV/AIDS virus and who are unaware of their status tend to, well, spread the virus.

Despite threatening to eliminate the $1.5 million for HIV/AIDS testing and drug money, Governor Blagojevich will maintain a $400 million increase for elementary and secondary education championed by the Governor’s key and nearly only political ally Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago).

Tonight Governor Blagojevich is holding a fund-raiser at the River East Arts Center to extol his leadership. If you want to show your support, the Governor provides oodles of levels to show your appreciation for his good deeds:

• $20,000–Co-Chair
• $15,000–Benefactor
• $10,000–Patron
• $5,000–Sponsor
• $500–Ticket

The VIP reception is 5:30-6:00 p.m. The rest of the herd gathers between 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Please make your cheque payable to: Friends of Blagojevich.

If this event eats into your healthcare budget, you can attend the Gay Pride Parade on Sunday, June 29. The Governor or the Governor’s contingent will likely march. You can give him a thumbs up–or whatever finger you want to wave–there.

Governor Blagojevich Threatens to Slash $600 Million from Healthcare, $110 Million from Education, $106 Million from Seniors and Veterans

(Springfield, IL) — Governor Rod Blagojevich today threatened to veto $1.5 billion in budget spending if the Illinois House refused to pass the Senate’s revenue package.

Reductions would be required to close a $2 billion dollar shortfall in the Fiscal Year 2009 budget passed by the General Assembly in May.

“As I’ve said before, the budget sent to me fails to meet the Constitutional requirement that spending be matched by funding to pay for it, and it jeopardizes the State’s ability to meet core responsibilities like teaching our children, providing healthcare, and protecting the public,” Blagojevich said. Blah, blah, blah.

Blagojevich gave the Illinois House until July 9 to adopt the Senate’s approved revenue bills. Or else. Bang. Granny gets it neck.

Items on the budget chopping block and consequences:

• Reductions in staffing throughout State government at agencies such as Department of Natural Resources, Department of Human Services, Department of Corrections, and others

• Increased workload for DCFS caseworkers.

• A $110 million reduction in education spending.

• Nearly $260 million in reductions to social services programs. Over 100,000 individuals would see a reduction in services or access to community health and prevention services; 21,000 individuals with developmental disabilities living in the community would face reductions in service; mental health services and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities would be reduced; rates for foster parents would not increase.

• A $257 million reduction to economic development and transit. More than 100,000 workers will not receive job-skills training, and state support for RTA fare subsidies for students and people with disabilities would be eliminated.

• More than $600 million in healthcare reductions. This includes a $530 million Medicaid reduction resulting in healthcare providers such as hospital and pharmacies waiting an additional 20 days for payment from the State, on top of the 70 days they already wait; 20,000 outpatients would not receive service at Oak Forest Hospital; and up to 10,000 uninsured residents who are unaware of their HIV status would not be identified and linked to healthcare.

• More than $106 million in reductions to services for seniors and Veterans. Expansion of the Elder Abuse Line would not be funded, despite a 25 percent increase in calls to the line since its inception. An additional 40 bed expansion at the LaSalle Veteran’s Home would not open.

That the “Health Care Governor” would threaten $600 million in health care cuts and $110 million in education spending reductions, a priority of chief Blagojevich ally Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago), suggests that Governor Blagojevich will risk his health care credentials and the Jones alliance sheerly to outmaneuver House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) in round 3,457 of their grudge match. Sheez.

And Speaker Madigan’s likely response? “Ok, cut.”

Blagojevich Administration Says Illinois Saved $34 Million From State Health Programs Last Year

(Springfield, IL) — From the Take-It-With-A-Grain-of-Salt-Department, Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Administration announced on Tuesday that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services saved $34 million during fiscal year 2007 through more efficient management of its medical programs.

The Blagojevich Administration says the savings resulted from the implementation of a Primary Care Case Management program and a Disease Management program for the almost 1.7 million individuals who receive their healthcare through HFS medical programs, which includes the state’s Medicaid program.

Those savings, the Blagojevich Administration claims, will pay for the first year of the All Kids expansion, which increased eligibility from 200 percent of the federal poverty level to all uninsured children and cost $22.8 million in fiscal year 2007.

In the past, the Illinois Auditor General William Holland has questioned in various audits Blagojevich Administration claims of program savings. If Holland gets assigned an audit request, we’ll see.

Gov. Blagojevich Says CDC Commends Illinois for Work to Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS

(Springfield, IL) — In spite of the Tony Rezko trial bombshells and other legal artillery salvos, the Good-News-Department crew, under all the treacherous fire, smuggled out from the Blagojevich Administration–good news.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has commended Illinois for its efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Illinois was the only state asked to present its program, “Safety Net of Perinatal HIV Prevention in Illinois,” at a recent CDC conference addressing mother-to-child HIV transmission. Illinois’ program has become a model for other states and countries.

Recent data, from October through December 2007, reveals that health professionals knew the HIV status of newborns and their mothers 99.97% of the time upon hospital discharge.

“… [M]ore than 99 percent of mother-to-newborn transmissions of HIV can be prevented if a pregnant woman is tested for HIV … and treated with medications before and after the birth of her child,” said Dr. Damon T. Arnold, Illinois Department of Public Health Director.

It’s a shame, however, that Gov. Blagojevich vetoed money for HIV/AIDS programs last year simply to smite House Democrats. Otherwise, the Governor’s record would be pretty stellar.

State Legislature Approves Money for Hospitals, Schools–A Blueprint to Next Year’s State Budget?

(Springfield, IL) — During the last month, the quarreling House and Senate approved key supplemental money bills to provide dough needed by and owed to state hospitals and schools, and they accomplished this feat on unanimous votes. Unanimous.

Could they these rare acts of cooperation show the way and motivation to a budget sometime this year? Or next?

On March 6, the House approved legislation, 106-0, to pay–finally–Illinois hospitals the $1.2 billion in Medicaid money due the hospitals under the deal worked out under the Hospital Assessment Tax program, and the Senate–finally–sent the bill to the Governor this past Friday, March 28.

The payment, which should have gone to the hospitals last year, fell victim to last year’s budget brawl. State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), right, revived the hospital payment effort last fall, filing Senate Bill 1863 on September 18, and got it through the Senate on February 28.

In addition to the $1.2 billion paid to the hospitals, the State is now eligible to claim $600 million more in a federal match, according to the Illinois Hospital Association.

All good news.

Yesterday, the House approved, 109-0, a senate supplemental appropriations bill, Senate Bill 1874, to provide $21 million to local school districts this fiscal year to pay for special educations expenses who are getting less this year than last.

The program, adopted by legislature in 2004, provides reimbursement to school districts for individual students with disabilities whose program costs exceed 4 times the district’s per capita tuition rate.

The schools, like the hospitals, were due the money. The legislature, with State Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton), left, spearheading it in Senate, got it done. Finally.

Which brings us to next year’s budget.

The complete absence of trust among the warring parties has incinerated the leaders’ budget-making process. House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) has already signaled that he has no interest in attending budget meetings with Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and Gov. Rod Blagojevich. So, now what?

Budget making bill by bill, amendment by amendment, continuing resolution by continuing resolution, drip by drip. The howling of unpaid vendors and local governments drives the process. Voila. Federal budget making. A budget in pieces. Late. No session end. No session beginning.

No face-to-face negotiations amongst the leaders. “Look, Ma, no meetings!” Just an ‘Ugly Betty’–a.k.a. a budget by a different name built on need not trust.

Ok, maybe not. But can you image all five of these dudes in same room anytime soon?

House Approves Rep. Hamos Plan to Spend $2 Million on Infant Hearing Program

(Springfield, IL) — The Illinois House today approved legislation, 108-2, to spend $2 million on the Universal Newborn Hearing Program.

State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), right, sponsored the health care measure, House Bill 5321.

On March 24, Rep. Hamos chaired one of 19 regional House hearings on the this year’s state budget in which social service providers beseeched lawmakers for hundreds of millions of dollars for new programs.

Other House sponsors include: Elizabeth Coulson, David R. Leitch, Sara Feigenholtz, Sidney Mathias, Harry Osterman, Aaron Schock, Jim Watson, Karen May, Kathleen Ryg and Elga Jefferies.

State Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the legislation in the Senate.

State Budget Opens Holes, Bills Go Unpaid, Press Takes Notice, Governor Plans More Spending

(Springfield, IL) — Chicago Tribune reporters Ray Long and David Mendel report Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s administration on Monday warned that a $750 million hole in this year’s budget has opened and needs to be filled.

Earlier this week Springfield Journal Register state house reporter Doug Finke noted Comptroller Dan Hynes is struggling to pay a $900 million backlog of bills, which Hynes expects to grow.

Meanwhile, the Joint Committe on Administrative Rules meets tomorrow and is expected to clash with the Governor’s administration on the Governor’s effort to expand the state’s Family Care health insurance program Family Care.

Democratic State Reps. Lou Lang (D-Skokie) and John Fritchey (D-Chicago) likely will be taking the lead on behalf of the Committee tomorrow. Lang and Fritchey are two of the sharpest thorns in the administration’s side.

The Committee is expected to reject administration rules to exand the program. In reality, the administration is already expanding the program and spending money, which will likely total $450 million this, $450 million which legislature refused to appropriate.

The state health budget likely is to be exhausted by next month.

The legislature likely is to be exhausted by the next month, too. Ditto the press corps. The staff. The lobbyists. The public.

Bloggers will be exhuberant.