In Illinois Medicaid claims may be paid out of future years’ appropriations under a provision of Section 25 of the State Finance Act. This provision, known as the Section 25 loophole, has repeatedly been used to budget an insufficient amount of Medicaid appropriations to cover costs for a given fiscal year, knowing that the bills will be paid from the next year‘s appropriations. This allows the STATE TO DELAY PAYMENTS  UP TO 6 MONTHS!!!!! Long term care givers are trusted with the most fragile people in our society, these payment delays jeopardize the safety of the elderly and increases the cost of healthcare, the state continues to execute this policy.  Please help us stop this practice!!!