Illinois hospitals received collectively $250 in new federal funding. | Stock Photo
Illinois hospitals received collectively $250 in new federal funding. | Stock Photo
Illinois hospitals benefited from $250 million in additional federal funding after a bipartisan effort in the state Legislature, Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) said.
“This is one example of both parties working together, addressing the needs of our diverse districts and accomplishing true bipartisan, compromise on really tough issues,” McCombie said in an early July statement. “This is exactly the kind of process and energy we need more of the legislature to move Illinois forward.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation on July 4 that renews the Hospital Assessment Program, qualifying Illinois for $250 million in additional funding.
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna)
| Courtesy Photo
“The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) worked with the General Assembly and stakeholders to distribute funding in a manner that increased funding to all hospitals in Illinois while prioritizing hospitals that serve a high number of Medicaid patients,” McCombie said.
It makes Medicaid funding more “dynamic” by giving recipients a greater ability to choose the hospital where they receive treatment.
“We are bringing in significant and vital new funding to safety-net hospitals and others that serve high percentages of Medicaid members,” Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson said in the post on McCombie's website. “This is crucial — especially in historically under-served communities of color throughout our state. The heroes working in our hospitals and the patients and neighborhoods they serve all need and deserve this critical support”
In May, McCombie supported the renewal of the Hospital Assessment Program when it was up for approval in the House. The bill was later approved by the state Senate before going to the governor for his signature.
It’s a $3.8 billion program nationally, up by $450 million since it was approved four years ago.
“Payments to hospitals will be more transparent and the billing system will be simplified for some services like laboratory tests performed by hospitals," McCombie said in the statement.
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