NEWS
from the Illinois Senate
State Senator Susan Garrett
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2007
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002
STATE SENATOR SUSAN GARRETT LEADS EFFORT TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY PLANNING PROCESS
SPRINGFIELD -- Legislation sponsored by State Senator Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) that will help maintain access to health care, prevent unnecessary duplication of health care facilities, and improve the process of health facility planning passed both chambers of the General Assembly this week and is now headed to the Governor's desk for the Governor's approval.
The Senate gave final legislative approval to Senate Bill 244 on May 30 on a vote of 59-0. The legislation extends the state's health facilities planning program to August 2008 and creates a task force that will conduct a complete evaluation of the program and make recommendations on potential reforms to the Legislature and the Governor by March 2008.
"There is a great need to reform health care in the state of Illinois, and the task force will have the critical role of determining what those additional reforms should be," said Garrett. "Through this bill and other legislative efforts, I have worked and continue to work to broaden the input and understanding of legislators when dealing with health care, an issue that is so important to all Illinoisans."
The task force will have 19 members, including: six people appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Health (three of whom with knowledge/experience in the delivery of health care services; two persons with professional experience in the administration/management of health care facilities; and one person with experience with health planning); two members each appointed by the four legislative leaders; four members of the general public representing health care consumers appointed by the Attorney General; and the Attorney General or designee.
"The hospital and health care community is indebted to Senator Garrett for her leadership on this important public policy issue. Continuing the state's Certificate of Need program to ensure that health care facilities meet the needs of our communities, while reviewing and improving the planning process, has been a major priority of Illinois hospitals and the Illinois Hospital Association," said Howard A. Peters, Senior Vice President of the Illinois Hospital Association. "Senator Garrett played an invaluable role in helping her colleagues understand the importance of this issue and in ensuring the passage of this legislation."
Senate Bill 244 also requires the Illinois Department of Public Health to inventory existing hospital bed capacity and update need projections.
"It is the proper role of the state to ensure that the need for hospital beds is being met," said Garrett. "We don't want our hospitals turning away patients who need care because of lack of space."