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Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Conger: ‘Optimistic’ PMH announces strong performance
Serving Bureau County Since 1847
Lay your phones down! New law prohibits handheld cell phone usage when driving By Donna Barker
By Donna Barker
dbarker@bcrnews.com
dbarker@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — In another four months, it will be illegal for Illinois drivers to use handheld cell phones while driving. Gov. Pat Quinn signed the new law on Aug. 16 amending the Illinois Vehicle Code and making Illinois the 12th state to ban the use of handheld cell phone devices while driving. The new law takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014.
PRINCETON — Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton remains strong, in spite of some challenging financial times, according to hospital officials. The Princeton City Council recently heard from Perry Memorial Hospital President Rex Conger and Chief Financial Officer Tricia Ellison who talked about the hospital’s annual report and audit. In her presentation, Ellison said the hospital experienced gross patient service revenue of $69.7 million for Fiscal Year 2013, which is a 4 percent decrease from Fiscal Year 2012. Of that $69.7 million in gross patient service revenue, the hospital had $35.8 million in writeoffs for the 2013 fiscal year. Further detailing the write-offs, Ellison said the hospital had contractual adjustments, which is the difference between the hospital charges for its services and what is actually received by private insurances, Medicare and Medicaid. The hospital also provided $1.6 million in financial assistance to patients for FY ‘13, which is about $100,000 less than last year. Bad debts for people who don’t pay for the services received amounted to $1.4 million, which is an increase of $505,000 over FY ‘12, the CFO said. Expenses for the hospital increased by 1 percent from the previous year. Based on FY ‘10 and FY ‘11 numbers, employee raises were not budgeted in FY ‘12 but were budgeted in FY ‘13. However, employee raises were not budgeted in FY ‘14, she said. Looking ahead, Elison said changes have been made to improve the hospital’s experience from last year. Those changes include requesting payment from patients prior to their scheduled services, which is a practice that
The new law, House Bill 1247, does allow for drivers to use hands-free phone devices, like speakerphones and headsets. The law also allows for exceptions to use two-way mobile radios and for using a cell phone during an emergency. On Monday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said he is rather reluctant to say he supports the new law because it seems like the state of Illinois is looking for more ways to control people. What will the state want to control next, he asked.
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See Phones Page 4
Jail begins HIV training By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
There was ‘Moore’ to the show Country artist Justin Moore wowed the crowd Friday night at the 158th Bureau County Fair. Aside from some rain on Thursday, fair-goers enjoyed hot but dry weather during the rest of the event. Watch the BCR for additional coverage on last week’s fair. See more fair photos in today’s BCR on Page 7.
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“But I understand what the legislators are trying to do, to make it a safer environment for everyone,” Thompson said. “But this time I think Illinois is overlegislating it, trying to control too many things. There are so many variables to consider.” Though he may not be in full support of the new law in general terms, he does completely support the ban on cell phone use in school zones and work zones.
County reaches settlement in lawsuit
See PMH Page 4 Year 167 No. 103
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PRINCETON — Bureau County has settled a lawsuit filed against it last year by a former inmate of the Bureau County Jail. Arick Buckles of Chicago filed the lawsuit in June 2012 claiming he was denied his needed and prescribed HIV medication when he was an inmate in the Bureau County Jail from Sept. 29-Oct. 6 in 2010. As reported earlier in the Bureau County Republican, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), on behalf of Buckles, had contacted the Illinois Department of Corrections in 2011 to file a complaint against Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson and Bureau County. At that time, ACLU attorney John Knight said he was not ruling out a lawsuit. As terms of the recent settlement agreement reached in the U.S. District Federal Court in Peoria, the Bureau County Sheriff’s Department agreed to alter four policies concerning medical care and privacy for prisoners at the jail. The sheriff’s department will conduct mandatory training for all jail staff to better inform personnel about HIV and the necessity of insuring continued access to medications for persons with HIV. The agreement also included a $20,000 payment to Buckles. On Monday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said the required training was to begin that day. Other than that, he has agreed not to make any further comments about the lawsuit or settlement agreement, upon the advise of the county’s attorneys in the case. Thompson and Bureau County were represented in the case by the Peoria law firm of Heyl, Royster, Voelker and Allen. Comment on this story at www. bcrnews.com.
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