State passes tax-exemption and charity care guidelines

Illinois hospitals are getting defined guidelines for charity care and property tax exemptions, as Gov. Pat Quinn yesterday signed into law new legislation that spells out what hospitals must do to qualify for nonprofit status. Among a bundle of Medicaid and tax laws the governor signed yesterday is S.B. 3261, which explains tax-exemptions and charity care provisions, and S.B. 2194, which details a new hospital assessment program.

The Illinois Hospital Association applauded the legislation, it said in a statement yesterday.

The state hopes to save Medicaid $2.7 billion by repairing the program's long-term deficit, according to a statement from the governor's office. The legislation includes $1.6 billion in Medicaid spending reductions, an increase in cigarette prices and dollar-for-dollar federal matching funds. Statement