SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says the health care system that covers 2.7 million people in Illinois is "on the brink of collapse."
In his budget address Wednesday, Quinn said Illinois must cut Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion to keep the system working.
But the Democratic governor didn't offer a plan for achieving that savings. He says a special working group will study the problem.
Quinn says possible changes include paying less to doctors and hospitals, cutting services, making it harder for people to qualify for Medicaid and more.
He challenged lawmakers not to end their spring session without a solution.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
