At a time when many local hospitals are expanding and investing millions in the region, more patients find themselves uninsured or unable to pay for medical services. The Illinois Hospital Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and health systems across the state, found that Illinois hospitals accounted for almost $2.4 billion from underpayments by government-sponsored programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and another $1.1 billion in health-care services were provided for patients who were unable to pay.
