Sen. Brady pleased that study of health planning board will finally be done         

[DEC. 21, 2006]  SPRINGFIELD -- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, says he is pleased that steps are finally being taken to determine the best course for the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, as recommended by a Senate Republican task force he chaired this summer to study the controversial board.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability voted unanimously on Tuesday to hire The Lewin Group to study the Health Facilities Planning Board. The Lewin Group, based in Falls Church, Va., is an objective third-party consulting firm that has been hired to perform other state evaluations in the past.

The Senate Republican Health Facilities Planning Board Task Force, led by Brady, conducted a similar study of the board this summer and released its report Nov. 29, recommending that a task force of the General Assembly be convened to examine the board in-depth and issue a report on the best course for the board.

"It pleases me that action is finally being taken on this issue," Brady said. "The HFPB has had a rough couple years, and politically expedient changes made in recent years have actually reduced its ability to operate effectively. We traveled to cities across Illinois this summer and talked to the people who work in health care facilities, as well as the consumers who rely on these health care services. We are forwarding a copy of the report to both The Lewin Group and COGFA, and it is my hope that they look at the work we have already done. It contains a lot of valuable information and will help expedite this process and perhaps save some money."

The Senate Republican task force was formed in June to take a closer look at the politically charged and increasingly litigious process that had become all too common in determining health facility construction and modification. Other task force members are state Sens. Pam Althoff of McHenry, Dale Righter of Mattoon and Brad Burzynski of Clare.

Brady says the reforms adopted by the current administration to address charges of political corruption and influence-peddling have had a detrimental effect on the ability of the Health Facilities Planning Board to operate effectively. The task force is recommending the reform of board procedures, the improvement of board operations and preparing for the future.

"Allegations of corruption at the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board resulted in changes by the current administration," Brady said. "Although these changes were portrayed as reforms, the Senate Republican task force found that they only restricted the board's ability to operate efficiently."

The Senate Republican task force conducted public hearings throughout the state to examine the efficiency, objectivity and utility of the board. After hearings in Chicago, Springfield and Plainfield, the task force found that structural and operational reforms are necessary for the board's efficient operation, as is a comprehensive review of the usefulness of the board and the certificate-of-need process in the governance of the health care industry.

[News release from Sen. Bill Brady]