Aries Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. v. Department of Public Aid

State: Illinois

Court: 4th District Appellate

Docket No: 4-00-1049 Rel

Case Date: 09/10/2001

September 10, 2001

NO. 4-00-1049

IN THE APPELLATE COURT

OF ILLINOIS

FOURTH DISTRICT

ARIES HEALTHCARE OF ILLINOIS, INC.,
d/b/a RIVEREDGE HOSPITAL,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AID; and ANN
PATLA, Director of the Department of
Public Aid,

Respondents-Appellees.

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Appeal from
Circuit Court of
Sangamon County

No. 99MR423

Honorable
Thomas R. Appleton,
Judge Presiding.

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JUSTICE TURNER delivered the opinion of the court:

Plaintiff, Aries Healthcare of Illinois, Inc.,

d/b/a Riveredge Hospital (Riveredge), sought judicial review ofthe decision by the Department of Public Aid (Department) to denyRiveredge's application for disproportionate-share-hospital (DSH)status. The circuit court affirmed the Department's decision. Riveredge appeals, arguing the Department erred in refusing toconsider additional information filed after an applicationdeadline, in its review procedure, to correct Riveredge's accounting error in its initial application. We affirm.

I. BACKGROUND

Riveredge is a licensed psychiatric hospital participating in Medicaid. Riveredge also receives reimbursement fundsfrom Cook County and the Illinois Department of Children andFamily Services (DCFS). Payments from these sources, plusinpatient charges for charity care, are used in determining DSHqualification based on low-income utilization. See 89 Ill. Adm.Code