Legislation in Illinois that would link hospital property taxes to charity-care levels is not expected to have a negative effect on not-for-profit providers in the state, according to Fitch Ratings.
The bill, which Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign, would require hospitals to provide at least as much charity care as they'd otherwise be assessed in property taxes. But the legislation also broadens the definition of charity care to include shortfalls in Medicaid reimbursement, subsidies to physicians who treat low-income patients and disease-management and prevention programs.