Illinois High Court Agrees to Hear Charity-Care Case

The Illinois Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case involving a nonprofit Catholic hospital that echoes the larger national debate over charity health care, reports the Associated Press.

The state of Illinois rescinded Provena Covenant Medical Center’s tax-exempt status in 2003, saying the Urbana hospital does not provide enough charity care to warrant the property-tax break. State officials maintain the hospital treats few poor patients and is overly aggressive in seeking payment from them.

The hospital has denied the state claims and says losing tax breaks would force nonprofit hospitals to reduce services.