State Senate OKs Measure Requiring Free Medical Care For Poor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois hospitals would be required to provide free care to some poor people under a bill being considered in Springfield.
Urban hospitals would have to provide free treatment to patients with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. That's about $46,000 for a family of four.
Rural hospitals would have to give free care to patients with incomes below 125 percent of the poverty guidelines. That's about $29,000 for a family of four.
Care would have to be medically necessary and patients would have to apply for assistance.
Opponents worry it would overburden hospitals with new patients.
The measure also would authorize Attorney General Lisa Madigan to adopt standards for the applications hospitals use for financial assistance.
(TM and © Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
