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Durbin: Varying Health Care Costs in State
When it comes to health care, they key issue is cost, according to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Durbin looks around Illinois and finds that costs vary widely, so he says it's important to discover whether the costs are justified, or whether the higher costs can be brought down to the lower level.

Durbin says the way costs are rising now, health care will be unaffordable no matter who is paying for it, whether it’s individuals, businesses, unions or the federal government.

He says the 48 million uninsured are important from a public policy standpoint, but the biggest hurdle in reforming health care is bringing down the cost.

MEDICARE PER PATIENT ANNUAL COST PER HOSPITAL REFERRAL REGION

Blue Island $9,846
Chicago $9,662
Joliet $9,606
Elgin $9,518
Hinsdale $9,276
Aurora $8,944
Evanston $8,764
Melrose Park $8,554
*Terre Haute, IN $8,553
*Metro East $8,306
*Paducah, KY $7,861
*Evansville, IN $7,568
Rockford $7,553
Urbana $7,483
*Quad Cities $6,994
Springfield $6,902
Peoria $6,847
Bloomington $6,750

*-Region includes some counties in Illinois, some in neighboring state

SOURCE: Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.

(Illinois Radio Network)
06 16 09 by Newsroom
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