TIMELINE of Events Related to Health Alliance Decision

HEALTH ALLIANCE TIMELINE

ANNOUNCEMENT

• April 6, 2011: Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announces new group health insurance contracts, touting claims of $102 million in savings next year and $1 billion in savings over 10 years. Health Alliance does not win contract for HMO.
• April 8, 2011: Senator Michael Frerichs (D – Champaign) writes letter to Governor Pat Quinn and HFS Director Julie Hamos urging them to reconsider this decision, supports Health Alliance’s protest
• April 8, 2011: Senator Frerichs launches a petition on his website for those who support keeping the Health Alliance HMO option. To date, over 480 individuals have signed

PROTEST

• April 8, 2011: Health Alliance files first of two formal protests of decision with Protest Review Board at the Executive Ethics Commission (EEC)
• April 11, 2011: Health Alliance files second of two formal protests with EEC

COGFA

• April 11, 2011: New contracts announced at Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) meeting. Because protest was filed, HFS and Governor’s Office can’t speak to Health Alliance’s bid. Health Alliance CEO Jeff Ingrum gives statement. Senator Frerichs, as a member of COGFA, questions HFS, Governor’s Office and is disappointed with lack of answers
• April 12, 2011: Governor’s Office and HFS hold Legislative Briefing to discuss decision with legislators. Senator Frerichs attends but is once again disappointed with lack of information and answers
• April 13, 2011: Downstate members of the Illinois House of Representatives send letter to Governor Quinn outlining their concerns
• April 21, 2011: Governor Quinn responds to Senator Frerichs’ letter, claiming the protest prevents them from answering any of his questions
• April 27, 2011: State Representative Naomi Jakobsson (D – Urbana) hosts a House Hearing on the changes to group health insurance contracts. For over 4 hours, legislators ask questions of representatives from the Procurement Office and HFS and receive few satisfactory answers

HFS: COST SAVINGS NOT A FACTOR IN DECISION

• May 4, 2011: Health Alliance CEO Jeff Ingrum tells Springfield’s State Journal Register that Health Alliance’s request for information from HFS reveals the presumed reason for new contracts—projected $102 million in cost savings to the State—was not a factor in awarding of contracts
• May 6, 2011: A bipartisan coalition of 34 State Senators write to Governor Quinn and HFS Director Julie Hamos questioning projected cost savings
• May 8, 2011: Senator Frerichs published Op-Ed in Champaign’s News-Gazette questioning decision in light of cost savings not being a factor. He announces his intention to vote against group health insurance contract changes at next COGFA meeting and urges Governor and HFS to re-start the process
• May 9, 2011: Senator Frerichs and Senator Shane Cultra (R – Onarga) issue statement questioning cost savings

PROTEST REVIEW BEGINS

• May 11, 2011: The Chief Procurement Officer at EEC begins formal review of Health Alliance protest. It is unknown how long the review will take, but is expected to be at least 2 weeks.

…IN THE FUTURE:

• EEC’s decision on Health Alliance’s protest to be announced
• COGFA will meet to vote to approve or reject new group health insurance contracts

BEST OUTCOME: The bidding process will be restarted, contracts re-bid