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Brady: Governor dragging feet on health board appointments

Posted October 08, 2007 11:00 pm

Doug Finke

A Republican state senator Tuesday accused Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich of holding up health-care projects in Illinois because he hasn't appointed members to an oversight board.

Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said the Health Facilities Planning Board has been unable to meet because two seats are vacant and one member has been ill.

The result is that dozens of potential medical construction projects and equipment purchases have been unable to move forward.

The five-member board is appointed by the governor. Three members must be present for it to conduct business.

"He's neglected to deal with a system that would have allowed tens of millions of dollars to be invested in health-care facilities throughout the state by not filling the vacancies on the planning board," said Brady, considered a possible candidate for governor in 2010.

"Because the governor has failed to appoint two additional members, the board can't meet in a quorum and the board can't operate."

The Health Facilities Planning Board was created in 1974 as a way of reining in skyrocketing health-care costs and ensuring that health facilities are spread throughout the state. Board permission is required for large-scale construction projects and equipment purchases by hospitals and other medical facilities.

But due to the lack of a quorum, the board hasn't been able to meet since late July. Spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said 60 projects are awaiting action.

Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said the administration is working to fill the vacancies.

"We are currently in the process of vetting candidates," Rausch said. "It takes a considerable amount of time with this board because of very strong conflict-of-interest language."

Brady said one seat on the board has been vacant for more than a year while the other has been empty for "a month or two." Rausch disputed that, saying one board member resigned last spring and another left effective Sept. 1.

Legislation that passed the General Assembly this year extends the life of the planning board until Aug. 31, 2008, while a task force studies possible reforms or whether the board is needed at all. A report issued in February by The Lewin Group, a Virginia-based health consulting firm, found no evidence that the board has prevented unnecessary services or contained medical costs.

Stuart Levine, an attorney and major Republican contributor, pleaded guilty last October to using his seats on the health facilities board and another state board to collect millions of dollars in kickbacks.

Doug Finke can be reached at (217) 788-1527 or doug.finke@sj-r.com.

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