Illinois owes local hospital $3.5 million in Medicaid payments

You hear a lot about how Illinois owes money to schools and human service agencies.  The state owes a lot to hospitals too in the way of Medicaid and state employee insurance payments.

The total is climbing at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.  Hospital spokesman Gene Vogelgsang says they’re waiting on $3.5 million in Medicaid payments.

Governor Pat Quinn will likely talk about Medicaid during his State of the State speech Wednesday.  Vogelgsang says he would like Quinn to explain what the state will do about it.

Vogelgsang doesn’t believe changing the qualifications to receive Medicaid would help hospitals since as a non-profit IVCH accepts everyone, even those who can’t pay.