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IGPA economist J. Fred Giertz discusses tax increases on NPR's "On Point"

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IGPA economist J. Fred Giertz, who tracks the Illinois economy each month with the University of Illinois Flash Index, was part of a panel discussion regarding state budgets and taxes on National Public Radio's "On Point" program on January 18, 2011. Listen to this program.

Transforming Medicaid in an Era of Health Reform: State Efforts to Thrive, While Hoping to Survive

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Charles Milligan of the Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County spoke at the IGPA State Summit on Medicaid regarding the impact of health care reform on the joint federal-state program. He discussed the growth in the Medicaid program nationally in the past few years, the increases in eligibility to come under the health care reform law and the limitations that states will face as the reform law takes effect. View the presentation [PDF].

The Illinois Economy: Current and Future Fiscal Challenges

Illinois faces a long list of fiscal challenges: a fall 2010 deficit close to $12.3 billion, rapidly increasing health care costs, and a high unemployment rate. Economists predict that the state’s economic recovery will be slow, ensuring economic and fiscal stress will be likely for some time to come. The public finance experts at IGPA have put together these FAQ about the state's economy and fiscal situation. Read more about it.

Fiscal Fallout 3: As far as the eye can see…Illinois' structural deficit

The third in the series of informational features that describe findings from IGPA's Fiscal Futures Project looks more closely at the structural deficit that Illinois faces.

Read Fiscal Fallout.

Policy Forum: Understanding the Effects of Medicare Prescription Drug Insurance

The first edition of IGPA's Policy Forum for 2010-2011 explores whether prescription drug use, which has increased due to Medicare Part D, is associated with decreased use of other health care services and/or the ultimate goal, improved health.

Read Policy Forum Vol. 23, No. 1.

Fiscal Fallout 2: How Does Illinois' Budget Deficit Measure Up?

IGPA's Fiscal Futures Project has published the second in its ongoing series of informational features that describe findings from its study of the Illinois state budget. The latest feature builds upon information provided in the first and looks at the state's budget shortfall over a period of years. Read Fiscal Fallout 2.