Illinois IS moving to to help the uninsured.

[davsand]

This is big stuff for Illinois because finally we are moving toward a legal definition of what level of charity care a hospital must provide in order to be seen as eligible for property tax exemption. Somehow, less than one percent seems too LOW when you look at how many people need medical care and can't get it because they have no insurance.

Lisa Madigan's office has been working on this issue, the Dept of Revenue has been involved, and now it is probably headed to the courts. This is the AP article about it, but even the Wall Street Journal has an article about this (and I can't get too it because I don't subscribe.)

State revenue director says hospital should not be exempt from property tax

Associated Press


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Director Brian Hamer of the Illinois Department of Revenue ruled Friday that Provena Covenant medical Center in Urbana does not provide enough charity care to qualify for reinstatement of its former exemption from local property taxes.

Hamer noted that in one recent year Provena Covenant had $113.5 million in revenue but incurred only $832,000 in charity care costs - less than one percent of its income.

The matter dates back to January 2003, when the Champaign County Board of Review recommended that the state refuse to renew Provena Covenant's application for tax-exempt status. At the time, the board cited what it called the hospital's overly aggressive attempts to collect money from poor and uninsured patients...

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/15648142.htm

The entire hospital industry in this nation has waited for this ruling to hit, and it DID hit, I think. Celebrate it, please, because it can potentially help change the health care system on a national level.

Regards!


Laura

On a personal note: We waited a very long time for this ruling, and it feels good to be vindicated for our initial local decision.

[kaleagal]

1. Marvelous news!

Hi to you, Kev and Material Girl!:hi:
I'll celebrate with you. :party: :toast: :woohoo:

[madrchsod]

2. yes this is big news

i read about when i worked at a printing plant several years ago that printed several hospital industry magazines. the editorials were telling hospitals they had better get ready for an unfavorable ruling. they also stated that hospitals better get their collection policies straightened out because that was the basis of the suit against these for mentioned hospitals...

[DollyM]

3. Family Care

We were able to get the new FAmilyCare/Kid Care insurance through the state and it has been a God send already as I ended up in the ER the other night and am possibly facing surgery. My only concern is, our son turns 18 in a little over a year, then we will be kicked off the program. I would like to see something comprehensive so that everyone who does not have insurance can get it. My husband is only working part time right now and it looks as if that will even disappear after the first of the year. We see highly educated people scrambling over each other for jobs in downstate Illinois so having an education doesn't guarantee anything. We are looking at moving out of state for jobs at this point. What a shame . . . we live right next door to my 78 year old mother and our son is a sophomore in high school. Neither one of them are thrilled about us moving but we have to have some decent jobs down here.