More Charity Care Is Needed At Illinois Hospitals: State Sen. Iris Martinez August 17, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) — Illinois State Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) is using a state decision to end tax breaks for some hospitals, as a lever to produce more charity care for the needy.

As WBBM Newsradio’s John Cody reports, the Illinois Department of Revenue ruled that Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Prentice Women’s Hospital, Edward Hospital in Naperville and Decatur Memorial Hospital will no longer be granted property tax exemptions granted to non-profit hospitals, because their facilities operate more like businesses than charities.

The Illinois Constitution exempts any places used exclusively for charitable purposes from paying property tax. But the Revenue Department said that the three hospitals weren’t doing enough free or discounted treatment of the poor to qualify for the exemption.

Martinez says the decision should get the State Hospital Association back to the bargaining table so state lawmakers can negotiate for more charity care.

“If it takes the rest of the year, and into next year, until we can create legislation that we can actually put in place, that will make sure and guarantee a fair share of charity care for all, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Martinez said.

Martinez says the State Hospital Association killed her bill requiring 3.5 percent charity care for all hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Department also is reviewing property tax exemption applications from 15 other hospitals.

# Thanks to WBBM Radio at: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/17/state-senator-more-charity-care-is-needed-at-illinois-hospitals/