Barry Maram receives Award for Distinguished Service in State Government

Barry Maram ’71, a member of Chicago-Kent’s board of overseers and director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, was one of three state officials nationwide to receive the Award for Distinguished Service in State Government at the annual meeting of the National Governors’ Association in July. Maram is the first Illinois state official to receive the award in more than 10 years.

“I am thrilled that Barry Maram has been selected to receive this prestigious award,” said Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. “Since the beginning of my administration he has worked tirelessly on behalf of countless women, men and children who need health care, need help collecting child support, need help paying the heating bills, need help paying for the high cost of prescription drugs, and so many other important issues. Barry’s performance has been absolutely stellar, and I’m extremely proud of him and the work he’s done.”

The National Governors’ Association asked each governor in the nation to nominate one state official they deemed most deserving of the Distinguished Service Award. In nominating Maram, Governor Blagojevich cited his management and organizational skills.

During Maram’s directorship, the governor’s office has launched several initiatives related to health and family. They include the “Leave No Senior Behind” program, which preserves current health care for seniors who would otherwise see gaps in their federal coverage; I-SaveRx, which allows state residents to purchase prescription drugs from state-inspected pharmacies in Canada and Europe; and the acquisition of increased federal funding for the enforcement of state child support payments.

In addition, Illinois has maintained coverage for everyone enrolled in its Medicaid program while extending those benefits to 313,000 more children and working parents.

“This is a tremendous honor for me, and I’d like to thank the National Governors’ Association for this esteemed recognition,” said Maram. “I share Governor Blagojevich’s vision to ensure more people in Illinois have health care, and that health care is more affordable and accessible.”