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'An Opportunity for Total Corruption'
A possible candidate for governor says a scandal-scarred state agency isn't needed at all.



Gov. Pat Quinn. on Friday, named Dr. Quentin Young to head the Health Facilities Planning Board, which determines whether and where hospitals can expand.



U.S. Rep. Mark S. Kirk (R-Highland Park), considering a run for governor, says these are decisions best left to the market. "I don't know why we need an Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board," he said. "It's just an opportunity for total corruption."



In the past, board members approved expansion applications only if the hospital agreed to hire a certain contractor. The contractor then paid kickbacks to compliant board members. Former board member Stuart Levine, appointed to the board by Gov. George Ryan and re-appointed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is in prison for his role.



But Quinn says health care can't be left entirely to the whim of market forces. He says health care is not just another product on the market, available to serve the most profitable customers. "Health care is a fundamental right of every person in this country," Quinn said. "Every citizen should have decent health care."



Young says there is no perfect way to balance regulation vs. competition, but he says the board is an effort to assure that health care expenditures are made in areas that are not served, instead of in areas already well served.

(Illinois Radio Network)
04 18 09 by Newsroom
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