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91_HB0486gms
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
207 STATE CAPITOL, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62706
June 30, 2000
GEORGE H. RYAN
GOVERNOR
To the Honorable Members of the
Illinois House of Representatives
91st General Assembly
I have signed House Bill 486, which amends the Civil
Administrative Code of Illinois by adding Section 2310-260,
and also amends the State Finance Act by adding Section
5.541. This legislation requires the Department of Public
Health, subject to appropriation, to establish and administer
a program to pay recipients for drugs and other costs
prescribed exclusively for post transplant maintenance and
retention when those costs are not otherwise reimbursed. The
legislation also creates the Post Transplant Maintenance and
Retention Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury.
House Bill 486 is intended to help qualified transplant
recipients purchase some of their high cost medication by
establishing the Post Transplant Maintenance and Retention
Fund. While this is a worthy goal, House Bill 486 does not
provide any Funding or any guarantee of future funding for
the program. I have been a staunch advocate for organ
donation for many years and believe that this legislation is
a positive step in view of the escalating problems associated
with transplant patients' inability to pay for their
essential medication. However, since House Bill 486 does not
provide any funding for this program, I strongly urge the
General Assembly to fund this program through an
appropriation. I am also encouraging the private sector to
financially support this Fund and work in partnership with
State government to ensure that the growing demand for
medication is appropriately addressed. Finally, because of
my strong commitment to organ donation and because of the
demonstrated need for this Fund, I plan to include a funding
request for this purpose in my budget proposal for the next
fiscal year.
With this clarification, I have signed House Bill 486.
Sincerely,
s/GEORGE H. RYAN
Governor
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