Quinn approves plan to fund Illinois Poison Center
Gov. Pat Quinn has signed on to a plan to keep the Illinois Poison Center open after it has seen a number of budget cuts in recent years.
The Chicago Democrat on Monday approved the funding plan that was included in legislation to restore some Medicaid cuts made in 2012.
The agreement requires an Advocate Health Care hospital in DuPage County to pay $8 million over the next four years to support the center. In exchange, the state will make an additional investment in the hospital to increase its Medicaid funding.
The Illinois Poison Center is staffed by experts who give residents advice in poison emergencies. Officials say it receives about 80,000 calls annually - thus helping to decrease unnecessary medical costs.
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