SPRINGFIELD, IL - Today, the Illinois State Senate passed a supplemental appropriation which will fund the Hospital Assessment Plan for FY 2008. $1.8 million in federal funding has been acquired during over the three years of the current plan. Hospitals in Champaign and Vermilion Counties will gain approximately $11 million in this last year of the plan.

"The hospital assessment plan has been a vital source of funding for our area hospitals," said Senator Michael Frerichs (D-Champaign). "The current plan has managed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable here in Illinois."

The hospital assessment plan has acquired federal money for services, such as rural healthcare at hospitals throughout the state, trauma care, and in-patient psychiatric services. The current plan has also given an additional $130 million to community services, such as long term care and care for developmentally disabled persons.

"Academic medical centers with high Medicaid caseloads, safety net hospitals in underserved communities, and rural hospitals have greatly benefited from additional federal funding," said Senator Frerichs. "I hope that the House takes quick action on this bill so that we can continue this program."

The following hospitals will have a net gain of the following amounts:

Carle Foundation	$4.4 million
Covenant Hospital	$1.1 million
The Pavilion Foundation	$0.07 million
United Samaritans Medical Center	$5.5 million

The current Hospital Assessment plan expires on June 30. A new plan is still being debated by the Appropriations II committee.

"While I am glad that we funded the hospital assessment plan for this fiscal year, we need to get a new hospital assessment plan implemented soon," said Senator Frerichs.