SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- Thursday night, Illinois lawmakers put their stamp of approval on a plan to cut $1.5 billion from the state's Medicaid program.
Most of the cuts are to services and prescriptions programs. Under the plan payments to hospitals and Medicaid providers will be slashed.
Illinois officials are trying to close a $2.7 billion hole in the Medicaid budget.
Lawmakers still have to vote on raising the state's cigarette tax by $1 a pack.
The Governor has yet to sign off on the plan.
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