Illinois' top budget official says the governor is cutting Medicaid payments as a way to force legislators to restructure the program.
Gov. Pat Quinn cut $270 million in Medicaid reimbursements when he signed the state budget into law last week. "Medicaid is a very ... cost sensitive area that's increasing since 2008 at 5.8 percent a year on average. That's a higher rate than the state can afford. And it squeezes out other priority spending," said David Vaught, Quinn's budget director.