Illinois records 25 more COVID-19 deaths, another 2,514 infected
State health officials reported 25 more COVID-19 deaths today, as well as 2,514 more new cases of the disease.
That brings the state's death toll to 8,563 since the outbreak began, along with 283,885 Illinois residents who have been infected by the virus.
Nearly 70,000 test results were returned Friday, increasing the state's seven-day average infection rate slightly to 3.6%. It had hovered at 3.5% for the past six days.
Meanwhile, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the state will offer $140 million in federally backed grants to Medicaid providers to deal with extra costs associated with combating COVID-19 at health care facilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities in disproportionately affected areas.
The governor called the grants the “first round of funding” to help these providers cover COVID-19 related costs, such as hazard pay, personal protective equipment purchases and other “unbudgeted expenditures.”
“All our essential workers in health care have been performing heroically on the front lines of this pandemic since the very first patient showed up with COVID-19, and they haven't stopped, despite months and months of grueling work and difficult circumstances,” Pritzker said. “They are critical to the health of our people in normal times — and this pandemic has only elevated their importance. I'm proud to support them today and every day.”
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson said it's taken extra time to distribute the grants because of federal qualification requirements. She noted that $58.8 million of the first wave of funding was specifically set aside for providers serving communities across the state that have had disproportionately higher cases of COVID-19, in poorer parts of the state and areas with higher minority populations. Also, state officials reported that in the first round of funding, $68 million in payments went to long-term care facilities, $50 million to federally qualified health centers and $23.5 million was distributed to “safety net” hospitals — those that provide care to a substantial share of vulnerable patients regardless of their ability to pay.
“The pandemic has put a spotlight on major health inequities in disproportionately affected areas,” Eagleson said. ““I'm grateful we can help providers serving Medicaid customers during this.”
Eagleson also said the agency next week will launch an online portal for providers to apply for additional grant funding in the future through the federal CARES Act.
Pritzker added the state is beginning to investigate claims of egregious medical billing for COVID-19 testing or treatments. A hotline will be set up in the coming days to handle reports of excessive or wrongful billing.
“Any Illinois resident will be able to call in any issues regarding COVID-19 billing,” he said. “Testing is free at all our state sites. No matter who you are, don't be afraid to get tested.”