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prompt payment
Most of the human care functions of state government are carried out by a partnership that includes public human care agencies and private, not for profit organizations that provide the actualy day-to-day, face-to-face care of people in need in Illinois.
Unfortunately, the state of Illinois has gotten into the habit of delaying payments to service provider organizations far beyond the thirty-day limit for reimbursement as established by state law. Because of the increasing delay in state payments, many service providers have found themselves in dire financial straights, forcing them to cut back or even close important human care programs.
HB 0616 Prompt Payment-Care Providers will help ensure care providers can submit vouchers and be paid in a first in-first out basis a funds become available.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Support Promp Payment for care providers
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Especially as the economic situation in Illinois and across the US continues to deteriorate, the state must take measures to strengthen, not weaken, the human care safety net. We know that the state by itself cannot meet the growing needs of people, families and communities. Nor can the private sector--including charitable organizations--meet all the needs. A strong public-private partnership is the only proven and cost-effective way to ensure a viable safety net for children, families, seniors and people with disabling conditions.
I urge you to support HB 616, a bill to add community-based human service providers to the list of state vendors getting priority for prompt payment when the state runs into cash flow problems.
The State of Illinois did not get into this situation overnight or even over the past year as the nation's economy has weakened. Delaying payments to vendors has been a tactic used by several governors, both Democratic and Republican. It is, however, a tactic that must end.
I am a supporter of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). I know that the cost of borrowing money to cover the gap between when LSSI provides services and when the state pays for those services, means that scarce dollars for services are being diverted to short-term debt service. HB 616 would put the burden of financing the state's "accounts payable" on the state itself instead of downloading those costs onto the providers of community services.
I urge you to support HB 616. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you how you intend to vote on the billSincerely,
Sincerely,
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