AARP IL Statement on Passage of the Nursing Home Rate Reform Bill

Contact: Vikki Ortiz, Communications Director
vortiz@aarp.org; (312) 956-4117

Monika Wnuk, Associate State Director of Communications
mwnuk@aarp.org (312)-458-3611

Statement from AARP Illinois State Director Philippe Largent on the passage of the Nursing Home Rate Reform Bill:

“AARP Illinois commends the Illinois General Assembly for passing the Nursing Home Rate Reform bill, bringing nursing home residents the high quality-care they have pleaded for and deserve.

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic took the lives of thousands of long-term care residents and staff, many facilities were plagued with dismal infection control, dangerous understaffing, and poor quality of care for our state's most vulnerable population.

The reform is a step forward in offering safe, high quality and equitable care to residents.  This bill invests in and retains quality frontline line staff who provide critical care to Illinois Medicaid nursing home residents.  The measure also requires greater transparency of nursing home ownership and revenue. 

On behalf of our 1.7 million members and all older adults across the state, AARP Illinois commends the Illinois Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson and team, Senator Ann Gillespie, and Representative Anna Moeller for their passion and commitment to helping Illinois’ nursing home residents age with dignity and respect.

We now look forward to working with Governor Pritzker to swiftly sign this bill into law and continuing the conversation on how Illinois can continue to disrupt long-term care."

###