Morning round up

A story the Daily News reported yesterday is making the rounds: Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced a new law, going into effect Wednesday, that caps the amount of money hospitals can charge the uninsured. Lawmakers are hailing it as a landmark law in a touch economy.

Here's an interesting look at the fallout from the incident at the University of Chicago Medical Center, which was cited by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for violating the EMTALA law, which says hospitals must treat all patients who come to their emergency rooms.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes about the medical marijuana bills being considered in Springfield.

Anti-cannabis activists worry that pot could become totally legal if the bills pass:
"That's a very big concern, absolutely," said Jeanie Lowe, an anti-legalization activist who has been at the forefront of Springfield's annual marijuana wars.

Lowe also questioned whether lawmakers facing a state budget deficit might want to legalize marijuana so it could be taxed in the future. "Seems like they tax anything that moves," Lowe said.

More sexually transmitted diseases in Kane County are prompting the county to allocate more money towards testing.

It appears people are not looking kindly upon Chicago's Olympic bid, as cutbacks at the city's mental health centers, U of C's ER and talk about closing a UIC location are gaining steam.

There's a shortage of Catholic priests to deliver bedside sacrament, according to the Trib.

But the greater demand combined with a shortage of priests threaten to create a painful shortfall for Catholics already afflicted. Priests worry that Catholic patients may suffer even more from neglect if the void goes unfilled.

In Washington, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is set for confirmation hearings to officially take over as Health and Human Services secretary. She says "health reform would be my mission.”

Anything we're missing? Send an email to alex (at) chitowndailynews (dot) org.