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Throughout the pandemic, hospitals and frontline healthcare professionals dedicated countless hours and significant resources to save lives and provide needed care. Fast-forward a couple years into the public health crisis and headlines like these stretched across news websites:

• “‘It’s an Ugly Year in Health Care’: Hospitals Report Record Losses,” from The Boston Globe on Dec. 22, 2022
• “Hospital Finances Are Deteriorating, Fitch Says,” from The Wall Street Journal on Aug. 16, 2022

Facing dire financial distress—from increased labor, drug and supply costs—Illinois hospitals are asking state lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1763, which provides the first General Revenue Fund (GRF) Medicaid rate increase for hospitals in 28 years. The bill would increase hospital Medicaid base rates by 20%, to release the pressure valve on hospitals’ deteriorating finances.

SB 1763 is especially needed as:

• The GRF hospital inpatient rate is less today than in 1995, while hospital costs are up 85%.
• Illinois ranks 48th in Medicaid spending per enrollee, with only Georgia, South Carolina and Nevada spending less.

Support and co-sponsor SB 1763 to preserve access to care for our most vulnerable urban and rural communities. SB 1763 will reduce the shortfall in Medicaid hospital rates, which now reimburse only about 80% of hospitals costs. Discover the facts to learn more.