Illinois hospitals hire first-ever DC lobbyist

<p><advertisement></advertisement>The Illinois Hospital Association has named longtime Democratic congressional aide Kimberly Parker as its first vice president of federal relations, opening the powerful state lobby's first-ever office in Washington. As health reform is implemented during the next four years, the association said, it wanted a stronger presence in Washington. Hospitals in Illinois are particularly concerned about rates they are paid by the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor, funded partly from federal dollars but also from state coffers, which are bleeding red ink. The association represents 200 Illinois hospitals.</p>