Illinois Hospital Tax Break Costs $10 Million

By The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - An Associated Press analysis finds that a little-known tax break for investor-owned hospitals passed by the Illinois Legislature last spring will cost the cash-strapped state at least $10 million a year in lost revenue.  

Hospital industry officials say the tax credit recognizes the free care they provide to the uninsured. But some state officials were puzzled about how the hospitals were able to land a major tax break during intense closed-door negotiations at a time Springfield was grappling with a dire financial crisis.  

The AP's review looked at how the provision got into the largest piece of legislation that passed the General Assembly last spring and its financial impact, which wasn't made public at the time.  Gov. Pat Quinn signed the $2.7 billion tax package in June.  

Investor-owned hospitals in southern Illinois with the tax break include Crossroads Community Hospital in Mount Vernon, Fayette County Hospital in Vandalia, Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, and Union County Hospital District in Anna.  The state has a total of 28 investor-owned hospitals.

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