SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois lawmakers are inching closer to a vote on slashing health care for the state's poor.
The latest version of the plan calls for cutting services by roughly $1.3 billion. That would mean reducing care for hundreds of thousands of people and ending it entirely for some people.
The legislation also reduces payments to hospitals and nursing homes by about $240 million.
A House committee approved the bill Thursday. A vote by the full House could come soon.
A move to raise cigarette taxes would be considered separately.
In all, the package is meant to close a $2.7 billion hole in Medicaid funding and strengthen the state's shaky budget.
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The bill is SB2840.
Online: http://www.ilga.gov
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
