Area health care providers and businesses are finding ways to make up for millions of state–owed dollars.
News 25's Michelle Mantel tells us why local health establishments have to put capitol plans on hold just to carry on business as usual.

Whether it's a senior citizen care center or one of central Illinois' predominant hospitals, the state is in the red and health care providers like Greg Wilson of Petersen Companies are paying the price.

"The state owes us roughly 40 million dollars", said Wilson.

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center hasn't seen their money either.

"At the end of November 2008 the state owed us 26.5–million dollars", said OSF Financial Officer Ken Harbaugh.

But the hospital's financial officer says a delay in state payments is nothing unusual.

Historically the state has always slowed payment down but typically it's been during the months of February and March as they get closer to the end of their fiscal year.

Peterson Companies Greg Wilson says residents at nursing homes like Fondulac Rehabilitation Care Center are still receiving their usual care.
But projects and upgrades to such facilities are being put on hold because of the lack of state dollars.

"This is the worst it's ever been it's historically been this way, nursing home providers have had to in this kind of environment in Illinois for quite a long time", said Wilson.

The state also owns money to pharmacies throughout the state but Alwan Pharmacy and Compound Center in West Peoria is still doing ok.

"But we want to make sure that will stay that way because a very large percentage of our customer base is on Medicaid", said Co-Owner Nancy Minesinger.

The Co–Owner says the state owes her pharmacy just under $300,000, which temporarily puts some projects on hold.

We have to budget for the fact that we won't get paid for a while and like I said the services we would like to offer patients have to wait also.

As other health care providers wait for finances to get out of the red in the state.