Centerstone facing state Medicaid cuts

In recent weeks, Centerstone Behavioral Health has been providing data to Illinois lawmakers, demonstrating that its services saved the state more than $4 million in prevented Medicaid costs and prevented more than 500 hospitalizations in 2014.  CEO of Centerstone Illinois John G. Markley provided the report and hosted a press conference to make a case against Gov. Bruce Rauner’s cuts to behavioral healthcare.

The expected cuts are part of a package to reduce state spending by $6.2 billion, according to the Southerner Illinoisan. Not-for-profit Centerstone could lose $4 million in funding next year, and according to WSIL, Markley said as many as 10 programs would be cut.

Rauner’s plan aims to reduce Medicaid spending by 30 percent.