Federal funding provides $400M bump for Illinois hospitals

CHICAGO (AP) - Hospitals across Illinois will receive $400 million in federal funding under the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Saturday he traveled to Washington last month to lobby for the funding bump. It will allow the state to increase its funding to hospitals to care for more inpatient and outpatient clients and cover a greater volume of people newly enrolled in the Affordable Care Act.

Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Julie Hamos says payments will begin by mid-February and will cover expenses retroactively.

Illinois has more than 800,000 people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act under "Get Covered Illinois."

Quinn also issued two executive orders Saturday. One ensures the state continues Affordable Care Act enrollment. The other ensures the state fully complies with a pregnancy discrimination law.