It is the purpose of this Article to provide a program of essential medical care and rehabilitative services for persons receiving basic maintenance grants under this Code and for other persons who are unable, because of inadequate resources, to meet their essential medical needs.
Preservation of health, alleviation of sickness, and correction of disabling conditions for persons requiring maintenance support are essential if they are to have an opportunity to become self-supporting or to attain a greater capacity for self-care. For persons who are medically indigent but otherwise able to provide themselves with a livelihood, it is of special importance to maintain their incentives for continued independence and preserve their limited resources for ordinary maintenance needs to prevent their total or substantial dependency.
305 ILCS 5/5-1