Healthcare Council Of Illinois Pushes For Managed Care Bill Of Rights

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Healthcare Council of Illinois made a stop at the Jackson Square Nursing Center Saturday as part of a seven city, seven facility tour designed to get support from nursing home residents for the proposed Managed Care Bill of Rights.

Allen Gaffner, the senior advisor to the Healthcare Council of Illinois, says presently there are no protections for Medicaid nursing home residents who will soon be enrolled into a Medicaid manage care process. That's why they're visiting nursing homes to inform and gain support for a measure that will protect their rights.

The proposed Medicaid Manage Care Bill of Rights protects 8-to 10 rights, including the right to select the community and nursing home in which they live, the right of the nursing home resident, their family and personal physician to determine their care plan.

Gaffner says the bill has passed in the Illinois Senate and is being considered in the House, where it's already gaining wide-spread support.