Smokers would pay a dollar more per pack as part of Governor Pat Quinn’s plan to put the brakes on Medicaid’s runaway costs.
Quinn also wants to limit some services, crack down on fraud, and reduce payments to medical providers.
But it was the cigarette tax hike that drew the most immediate reaction, with Republican legislative leaders vowing to fight any attempt to raise taxes.
Quinn says his proposal will lead to two-point-seven billion dollars in savings next year… without it, he says Medicaid could be insolvent in five years.
