LAWMAKERS PASS KIDS’ HEALTH PLAN:

The Illinois House passed H.B. 806, Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s “All Kids” health insurance program on a 79-28 vote, following Senate approval on a 32-23 vote.

The program is aimed at parents who earn too much to qualify for Medicare or the state’s Kidcare program, but face hurdles in getting insurance through their own employer. Participants would pay deductibles and premiums based on income.

Swift passage of the plan through the House and Senate came after Blagojevich spent two weeks barnstorming across the state campaigning in support of the proposal.

The program will go into effect July 1, and is expected to enroll about 50,000 in the first year, according to the governor’s office. The program will be funded by moving most of the state’s 1.7 million Medicaid enrollees into a managed care style of health insurance, which officials say will save $56 million.