FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 25, 2005

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurie Peacock
312-580-6497
(cell) 312-608-3620

Illinois State Medical Society Lends Support to All Kids Proposal

Chicago – The Illinois State Medical Society today announced it is endorsing-in-concept Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s All Kids proposal to expand health insurance coverage to Illinois’ uninsured children who are ineligible for other state-offered health insurance programs.

ISMS President Craig A. Backs, M.D., commended the goals of the All Kids initiative. “In broadening patient access to medical care, All Kids furthers one of the medical society’s foremost, long-standing aims,” he noted. “Getting more kids to see their doctors regularly – before major, costly medical problems erupt – that’s All Kids’ core premise,” Dr. Backs stated. “It’s sound medicine and sound public policy.”

Dr. Backs qualified the Society’s support for All Kids as “still conceptual in nature.” “While we’re very pleased about its potential medical impact, we don’t yet have all the details about how All Kids will operate. We hope this proposal signals a new beginning and a new standard for the entire Medicaid program,” he said, “leading to systematic improvements for our patients who are most in need.” Dr. Backs emphasized that ISMS stands ready to work with the governor and his administration to flesh out the functional details of this plan so that it is truly effective for the patients and physicians who will depend on it.

All Kids will offer access to comprehensive health care to the over 250,000 uninsured children in our state, including doctor’s visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision and dental care. “Offering these crucial services to children will help to establish a relationship with a physician, enabling earlier diagnoses, a reduction in hospitalizations and the appropriate management of chronic illnesses,” summarized Dr. Backs.