Judge may rule Friday on part of Health Alliance suit
Updated 12:25 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD — A Sangamon County judge could rule Friday on motions filed by Health Alliance Medical Plans and Humana that are seeking to shut down health benefits enrollment under way for state employees.
That enrollment is speeding toward a June 17 deadline, and both companies have filed lawsuits seeking to overturn the managed care contracts that were awarded by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield, HealthLink and PersonalCare.
Health Alliance is seeking a stay or temporary restraining order to stop the award of Open Access Plan contracts to HealthLink and PersonalCare, if the judge grants either it would shut down the health plan enrollment process and leave the state to find another coverage option. The state would have two days to appeal that ruling, said Health Alliance’s general counsel Lori Cowdrey Benso.
Sangamon County Judge Brian Otwell declined to rule on Health Alliance’s motions at a hearing Tuesday, and Benso said it’s unclear if he will rule on those motions after a hearing on Humana’s motions Friday.
Humana is seeking to halt both the Open Access Plan and HMO contracts, she said.
Health Alliance, which currently covers about 100,000 state members in an HMO, filed a lawsuit Monday contending it was treated unfairly in the bidding process.
MoreI completely agree with the first comment! I have been holding off on enrolling in the state plan in hopes that HA wins this case and life can go on as usual. There is definitely something very suspicious about how Gov Quinn went about this switch. He completely ignored our pleas and the House and Senate voted 98 in our favor to keep HA--still it is rumored he will veto the bill. What is wrong with this picture! Please Judge Otwell rule in favor of us keeping Health Alliance!
I agree with the above comments. A ruling for HA today would be good news but wouldn't we have more of a wait if the ruling is appealed? What it Judge Otwell rules for HA and then another judge overturns it?
This whole thing is ridiculous. Governor Quinn has completely forgotten that he's Governor of the entire state and not just the Chicago area.
What I wonder is if the legislature will vote to override the Governor's veto. They seem to be in our corner now but will they stick to their guns?
Looks like he will be making a decision today:
http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x1162600293/Judge-to-issue-decision-in-Heal...
Uh oh! I certainly don't like this portion of the article:
"A ruling in favor of Health Alliance and Humana also could result in the state's health-care contracts being rebid on an emergency basis and all 352,000 people in the state plan being forced into the Quality Care plan operated by Cigna. The Quality Care plan carries the highest premiums and out-of-pocket costs among all the options in the state health plan."
How could they force us all to go with the Quality Care plan?
The plot definitely thickens.
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