Quincy Herald Whig-Madigan puts charity care legislation on hold

Quincy Herald Whig: "By Kelly Wilson

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has agreed to put on hold her push for legislation that would require the state's nonprofit hospitals to provide a minimum amount of charity care.

'The Illinois Hospital Association has finally agreed to negotiate this bill,' Melissa Merz, a Madigan spokesman, said of House Bill 5000. 'It is too complex to finish in the short session that ends April 7. We've agreed to introduce a bill after negotiations next session.'

Leaders of the Illinois Hospital Association announced the news in a statement sent to the state's hospitals.

'The attorney general and the Illinois Hospital Association will discuss the issues of hospital charity care obligations and hospital property tax exemption, with the goal of drafting acceptable legislation for the 2007 session,' said the statement, written by IHA President Ken Robbins and IHA Senior Vice President Howard A. Peters III."