Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to announce steps today to revise the state's property tax code, and consider property tax exemptions for hospitals that provide a large amount of Medicaid services. Quinn had a moratorium that ends today, March 1, on decisions regarding hospital property tax exemptions.

Whether these hospitals deserve property tax exemptions strikes at the heart of the debate on how Illinois can both balance its budget and provide adequate Medicaid.

Quinn's actions respond to a 2010 state Supreme Court ruling that hospitals that provide Medicaid services -- and therefore get reimbursements from the federal and state government -- are not the same as hospitals providing charity care. Therefore, these hospitals are not eligible for tax-exempt status.