Ill. mulls $1.4B in Medicaid cuts, including dental

Proposed legislation in Illinois would trim $1.4 billion from Medicaid and end coverage for most adult dental services, according to a report by CBS News.

The cuts are significantly less than the $2.7 billion Gov. Pat Quinn originally said would be necessary to keep the program from collapsing entirely.

While most dental care for adults is on the chopping block, emergency dental care would still be covered in SB2840. Other proposed cuts would reduce payment for adult eyeglasses to once every two years, reduce diabetics' podiatry coverage, and eliminate a prescription drug program covering 200,000 seniors.

The governor has also proposed a $1 increase in the state's cigarette tax to increase revenue.