A federal judge in Chicago is mandating the State of Illinois to pay Cook County Medicaid providers - even though the budget impasse continues at the Statehouse.
Several state government services have now been deemed so important - they must be provided while politicians disagree on how to spend taxpayer money.
The latest must-pay bill for the state applies to Cook County Medicaid providers. Medical payments for low income people are one of the biggest chunks of money the state provides.
John Bouman is an attorney with the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law who brought the lawsuit.
You have to keep the whole system going as if there’s no budget impasse in order to ensure the children have access to care.
Bouman says it’s up to Governor Bruce Rauner if the ruling should be applied statewide - or if it’s limited to Cook County medical providers.
Rauner’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.