Ain't this something? Ill. nursing homes, hospitals to get paid sooner - Chicago Breaking News

Nursing homes and hospitals that have waited for months to get paid by the State of Illinois will start receiving the money they are owed sooner, Gov. Pat Quinn said today.

Under the American Recovery and Investment Act, the time it takes to get a payment will be cut to 30 days by June 1, Quinn's office said in a statement. Previously, nursing homes were waiting up to 150 days to get paid, the release said.

The legislation also will increase the federal reimbursement rate for Medicaid from about 50 percent to 60 percent, the release said. The Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services will now draw upon over $200 million of federal reimbursement for bills that go back to Oct. 1, 2008.