Lawmakers in Springfield passed a slimmed-down Medicaid omnibus bill this year as state budget constraints and federal funding uncertainties loomed large.
by Peter Hancock Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals.
Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, like a 2021 initiative that made millions of dollars available to local communities to help them plan and design their own health care delivery systems. Other packages have focused on smaller changes like guaranteeing coverage for specific conditions and medications or adjusting reimbursement rates for different categories of health care providers.
And most years, the packages receive bipartisan support because they are negotiated, largely behind closed doors, by an unofficial, bipartisan Medicaid Working Group.
This year, however, lawmakers passed one of the narrowest packages in recent memory, due mainly to the Trump administration’s vows to make sweeping cuts in federal funding for the program while state lawmakers faced their own set of budget constraints.
“There were many, many, very worthy program expansions, rate increases that we considered during this process that we were unable to include because of the uncertainty in Washington,” Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, the current chair of the Medicaid Working Group, said on the House floor Saturday.
The Illinois Medicaid program currently costs about $33.7 billion a year, according to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Of that, $20.9 billion, or about 62%, comes from the federal government while much of the state’s share comes from taxes levied on hospitals, nursing homes and managed care organizations – money the state uses to draw down federal matching funds.
The program covers nearly 3.5 million people in Illinois, or about a quarter of the state’s population. According to the nonpartisan health policy think tank KFF, the program pays for 40% of all child births in Illinois while covering 69% of all nursing home residents.
This year’s Medicaid omnibus bill, a 231-page amendment inserted into Senate Bill 2437, contains items that could be hugely beneficial to many Medicaid enrollees, but which don’t carry large price tags. In fact, the entire package is estimated to cost just under $1 million.
One of this year’s additions would make it easier for family members of medically fragile children who qualify for in-home nursing care to receive training to become certified family health aides, a designation that would enable them to administer medications, help with feeding and perform many of the same tasks as a certified nursing assistant.
Another provision would require all hospitals with licensed obstetric beds and birthing centers to adopt written policies that permit patients to have an Illinois Medicaid certified doula of their choosing to accompany them and provide support before, during and after labor and delivery.
Although those provisions enjoyed bipartisan support, another provision that extends coverage to certain categories of noncitizens drew Republican opposition Saturday, resulting in a partisan roll call vote.
The program covers noncitizens who meet the income requirements for Medicaid and have pending applications for asylum in the United States or for special visas as victims of trafficking, torture or other serious crimes. Those individuals can receive coverage for up to 24 months, provided they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Moeller said the language was not a new extension of health care benefits to noncitizens, but instead a “technical and administrative fix” to an existing program that had been requested by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.
But for Republicans, the programs sounded too similar to the more controversial programs, Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors and Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults, that extend health care to a large category of people who are not U.S. citizens, including some who are in the country illegally.
“For us on this side of the aisle, that is the poison pill,” said Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, the deputy House minority leader. “So in spite of the fact that we have article after article in here, that is very worthy of a yes vote, I would urge a no vote.”
At Gov. JB Pritzker’s request, the budget bill lawmakers passed Saturday night cancels the program for immigrant adults, which had covered about 31,000 noncitizens age 42-64. But it provides $110 million over the next year, all in state funds, for the immigrant seniors program, which covers about 8,900 noncitizens age 65 and over.
The Medicaid bill passed the House late Saturday night, 76-39. It then passed the Senate shortly after midnight, 36-19.
It next goes to Pritzker’s desk for his consideration.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Throughout the school year, exchange students attend a local high school, participate in community life, and immerse themselves in American customs.
Photo: African Student Association/Unsplash
As families across the country plan for the school year ahead, one nonprofit is inviting them to take part in a cultural exchange that reaches far beyond the classroom. World Heritage International Student Exchange Programs is currently seeking host families willing to welcome international students into their homes for the upcoming school year.
The experience is more than just providing a bed and meals—it’s a chance to share daily life, build lifelong friendships, and foster deeper understanding between cultures. Students, aged 15 to 18, come from over 60 countries, including France, Japan, Italy, Australia, and Denmark. They are carefully selected for their academic performance, English proficiency, and strong personal character.
Five really good reasons to be a host:
1. Cultural Enrichment at Home
You don’t have to travel the world to experience it. Hosting a student brings another culture straight into your living room. Experience new foods, new traditions, even fun phrases in a different language.
2. Lasting International Friendships
You’re not just hosting a student, you’re gaining a new family member. Many families stay in touch for years, visiting each other and celebrating milestones from across the globe.
3. Personal Growth and Family Connection
Welcoming someone new into your space teaches patience and understanding. It often brings families closer together as you all work as a team to make the experience great.
4. Educational Opportunities for All
Your kids (and you!) can learn so much just by chatting at the dinner table. Exchange students bring new perspectives that can spark great conversations and open up your view of the world.
5. Giving Back Without Financial Strain
You provide the home and meals, and the student covers their own spending money and insurance. It’s a rewarding way to make a difference—without breaking the bank.
Host families are diverse and can include empty nesters, single parents, same-sex couples, retirees, or young professionals. What they all share is a willingness to provide a safe, supportive environment that offers encouragement and cultural exchange. The students arrive with their own spending money and health insurance, making hosting financially accessible to most households.
Throughout the school year, exchange students attend a local high school, participate in community life, and immerse themselves in American customs while also sharing their own. For many families, the experience brings a new level of global awareness right into the living room.
In addition to hosting opportunities, World Heritage also connects American students with similar experiences abroad through its study programs, offering them a chance to explore life in another country for a summer, semester, or school year.
Families interested in hosting or exploring study abroad programs can visit www.host.world-heritage.org or contact Debra Garbon at (800) 888-9040 or info@worldheritage.org for more information.
Tagged: how to host an international exchange student, cultural exchange programs for American families, student exchange host family opportunities, benefits of hosting foreign exchange students, nonprofit student exchange programs in the U.S., World Heritage International host family info, exchange students and American high schools
Just like tipping a server or barista, tipping your housekeeper is part of good travel etiquette.
Asad Photo Maldives
Taking off to vacation for a few weeks is great for stress release, getting to know a loved one better, and good overall for mental health. While you are relaxing and decompressing from all that ails you, remember there is someone working hard to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
Vacation season is here, and travelers everywhere are packing bags, booking hotel rooms, and looking forward to a break. But while you’re relaxing poolside or enjoying a freshly made bed, there’s someone working hard behind the scenes to make your stay more comfortable: your hotel housekeeper.
Most guests don’t think twice about tipping a server at a restaurant or a driver for a ride, but many forget or don’t realize that housekeeping staff also deserve recognition for their work. Leaving a few dollars behind in your hotel room might not seem like much, but to a housekeeper, it can be a meaningful boost in both income and morale.
Why Your Tip Matters More Than Ever
In this environment of staffing shortages, increased workloads, and ongoing wage struggles, tipping isn’t just a nicety, it’s a real way to make a difference.
1. Housekeepers Work Hard
Cleaning multiple rooms a day is physically demanding. It requires speed, strength, and attention to detail. A small tip is a simple way to acknowledge that hard work.
2. They’re Not Paid Much
For workers earning close to minimum wage, tips can make the difference between getting by and falling behind.
3. They Make Your Stay More Comfortable
From fresh towels to clean sheets to a spotless bathroom, housekeepers create the environment that makes your hotel room feel like a break from the real world.
4. Tips Encourage Better Morale
A few dollars shows someone that their effort is seen and appreciated. That’s powerful motivation—especially in a job that can feel invisible.
5. It’s a Common Courtesy
Just like tipping a server or barista, tipping your housekeeper is part of good travel etiquette. Many travelers leave $2–$5 per night. If you’re staying multiple days, consider tipping daily, as the staff may rotate.
A small gesture with a big impact
It might seem like a small thing, but leaving a tip for your housekeeper helps support the people who make your trip more enjoyable. At a time when housekeepers are doing more work for the same (or even less) pay, your gratitude makes a real impact.
Photo:Liliana Drew/PEXELS
Hotel housekeepers work hard to make the guest experience pleasant. Unfortunately, during peak travel months they can be overworked and underappreciated.
And in today’s hospitality industry, where housekeepers are more overworked and under-supported than ever, that small gesture matters even more.
The hidden workers who keep hotels running
Hotel housekeepers are the backbone of the guest experience. They clean 10 to 15 rooms per shift working under tight time constraints and physically demanding conditions. With the chronic understaffing in the industry today, they typically clean even more. They lift heavy linens, scrub bathroom floors, replace used items, and sanitize spaces to keep guests safe and comfortable.
Despite this essential role, housekeepers are among the lowest-paid workers in the hospitality sector, often earning between $8 to $15 an hour, depending on the region. Many rely on tips to help cover basic needs like groceries, gas, and childcare.
And yet, unlike other roles in hospitality, housekeepers usually work in the background. Guests rarely see them, and because of that, their work often goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
How the pandemic changed everything
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in 2020, the hotel industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors. At its worst, an estimated 70% of all hotel staffs was reportedly laid off or placed on leave, leading to nearly 400,000 jobs vanishing between February 2020 and August 2022.
The upheaval pushed many hospitality workers to rethink their career paths. Tired of low pay, long hours, and unpredictable schedules, many moved into retail, warehouse jobs, or started small businesses where working conditions were more stable and allowed for more time to engage in social activities or raise families.
Today, the effects are still being felt.
A recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association revealed that nearly 90% of U.S. hotels face a staffing shortage, and more than a third are dealing with severe understaffing. Housekeeping is the most affected area with 43% of hotels reporting it as the hardest role to fill. An estimated 115,000 hotel jobs remain unfilled since the initial pandemic cuts.
That shortage means fewer hands to do more work and more pressure on the housekeepers who continue to work hard to keep up on the daily demand.
Immigration crackdowns and staffing issues
The problem didn’t start with the pandemic. Years of immigration crackdowns, especially during the Trump administration, added to the industry’s hiring struggles. The hospitality sector, especially housekeeping, has long relied on immigrant labor, including many undocumented workers.
Photo: Rodrigo Salomón Cañas/Pixabay
A 2020 report by the Center for Migration Studies of New York estimated that U.S. hotels employed about 137,000 undocumented immigrants. But with heightened threats of deportation and anti-immigrant rhetoric, many left the workforce or the country altogether.
According to Business Travel News, industry leaders say that these immigration policies worsened existing labor shortages. Even in 2024, hotel employment remains roughly 200,000 jobs short of pre-COVID levels.
So before you check out of your next hotel room, take a moment to say thank you. Leave a few dollars on the nightstand with a quick note if you like. It’s not just a kind gesture, it’s a small way to let the staff know that you appreciated their work in making your stay clean and comfortable. For many, your tip is a show of respect and compassion for the essential workers who work hard behind the scenes.
Tagged: Travel, Vacation Travel, Summer Vacation, Hotel Housekeeping, Hospitality Industry
Learning by leading: Building teen entrepreneurship and real-world business know-how
Already on Tiktok or Instagram? Teens can get real-world skills by blending business and their social media platforms into a unique venture this summer where they can learn valuable business experience as entrepreneurs.
by Peter Hancock
