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On Nov. 15, 2006, lawmakers adopted
House Resolution 1497, which asked the Commission on Government
Forecasting and Accountability to study the effectiveness of the
Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board in containing health care
costs and protecting health care access. In December 2006, the
commission hired the Lewin Group,
an objective third-party consulting firm based in Falls Church, Va.,
to study the planning board. The Commission on Government
Forecasting and Accountability released the Lewin Group report Feb.
22.
"The Lewin Group report is in, and its findings are dramatic,"
Brady said. "It shows that there is no data-driven reason for the
existence of the Health Facilities Planning Board, which makes a
strong case for disbanding the board and allowing decisions about
the location and expansion of health care facilities to be made
locally and regionally. I am pleased steps were finally taken to
determine the best course for the board, as recommended by a Senate
Republican task force I chaired last summer. In fact, many of the
Lewin Group suggestions are similar to the findings of our task
force."
The Senate Republican Health Facilities Planning Board Task Force
was formed in June 2006 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.
The task force conducted public hearings in Chicago, Springfield and
Plainfield to examine the efficiency, objectivity and utility of the
board. The task force report, issued Nov. 29, 2006, found that
structural and operational reforms are necessary for the board's
efficient operation. It also recommended further in-depth study by a
larger General Assembly task force, which would then report on the
best course for the board.
[Editor's note: It was the Illinois Health Facilities Planning
Board's decision to retract the Certificate of Need for Lincoln
Developmental Center in 2002 that closed the doors of the
150-year-old institution. The action placed hardship and burden on
numerous parents of residents who did not want to see the
institution closed. The action also disrupted the local economy, as
the facility was a major employer, drew state and federal operations
funding, and regular visitors.]
Past related articles
[to top of second column] |
 Lewin findings
There is no empirical evidence that the Certificate of Need
process has any impact on health care cost containment. This finding
was realized by comparing health care costs of states with a CON
process to states without a CON process.
There is no empirical evidence that the CON process improves the
quality of health care services. There is no empirical evidence that
the CON process does anything to protect safety-net providers. To
determine this, Lewin compared the operating margins of safety-net
providers in CON states to the operating margins of safety-net
providers in non-CON states.
There was not a significant difference in the operating margins
of safety-net providers in the differing atmospheres, suggesting
that the CON process does very little to assist safety-net
providers.
Lewin recommendations
Extend the CON process for a three-year period in which the state
will conduct a comprehensive study on the impact CON has on
safety-net providers.
Evaluate non-CON related means of supporting safety-net
providers.
Consider establishing a more proactive board that would focus on
a blueprint for health facility development and promote specific
initiatives (board should be proactive in planning).
Address issues related to board size and structure; the board
size should be increased and individuals with direct experience in
health care provision should be on the board.
Reasonable compensation should be awarded to board members.
The board's workload should be focused more specifically on areas
that appear to have the greatest impact on the health care delivery
system.
[Text from news release sent on
behalf of
Sen. Bill Brady and received
from Illinois
Senate Republican staff]
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