"Right now, there are 51 Critical Access Hospitals in Illinois that provide care to some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, particularly seniors," Senator Forby said. "We need to reimburse these hospitals so they can stay open and available. They are especially important to our Southern Illinois communities because they provide vital services to such large areas of the state."

According to Mike Budnick, business development officer for Franklin County Hospital, nearly 40 percent of people in Illinois live in communities served by Critical Access Hospitals.

The Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Program was created by the Federal Government in 1997 as a health care safety net to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to needed services in rural areas. The Illinois Hospital Association says that Critical Access Hospitals typically only receive about 74 percent of the actual cost of care for Medicaid patients. This bill intends for the state to obtain matching federal funds that will pay half of what it costs to ensure hospitals are getting paid for their services.

"Communities with Critical Access Hospitals depend on them for jobs," Senator Forby said. "They do more than just provide health care services. They are a major source of employment for some of our state’s smaller communities. If any of these hospitals shut down, the economic impact would be devastating and set our state back even further."

Senate Bill 3264 now moves to the House of Representatives where it awaits a vote.