Federal Judge Joan Lefkow will decide if Illinois must prioritize $2 billion in Medicaid payments owed to healthcare providers during the state budget gridlock, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Attorneys representing Medicaid patients are not expecting immediate payment of the $2 billion owed to healthcare providers; however, they wish to establish the unpaid bills as a priority to advance negotiation between both parties to reimburse physicians and hospitals.
Ms. Lefkow articulated that she was sympathetic to the Medicaid patients' arguments, but it was unlikely she would instruct the state's comptroller which bills to expedite, according to the report.
Ms. Lefkow's decision is expected in the next few days.