SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Illinois Comptroller says increased revenues coming into the state during tax season have allowed her to release more than $800 million in payments for health care services.
Comptroller Susan Mendoza on Wednesday said the money will go to nearly a dozen managed-care operations in Illinois serving Medicaid patients. Mendoza's office says those organizations can use the money to pay doctors, hospitals and mental-health counselors.
In addition to the $800 million the office says it also Thursday plans to issue more than $150 million in payments directly to hospitals.
The payments come as the state of Illinois has a bill backlog of more than $11.8 billion amid the lack of a state budget. Democrats in the state Legislature and GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner have been amid a budget impasse since June 2015.
