Medical watchdog unit lacks funding

In Illinois, government officials and physicians are debating proposals to cover the costs of a watchdog group that will investigate complaints against physicians. Both sides agree that the unit needs more money to function efficiently, but while the governor’s administration aims to double physicians’ licensing fees and also borrow money, the medical society feels that the money should stem primarily from taxpayers’ dollars.

Officials from the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation want to raise physician licensing fees by $150; the annual fee is currently $100. They would also seek to borrow more than $6 million from a tax fund, which would be put toward rehiring department employees laid off last month due to budget cuts. In opposition of the state’s proposal, the Illinois State Medical Society has instead proposed increasing fees by only $67 and transferring nearly $10 million from the state’s General Fund, which is financed by taxpayers.