CHICAGO – A coalition of Chicago-area hospitals that serve the poor called on Illinois officials to go after more federal money before cutting their Medicaid funding, a proposition dismissed by state health officials as based on unrealistic assumptions.

Leaders of the Association of Safety-Net Hospitals released a plan Wednesday that aims to bring Illinois’ Medicaid program $1.4 billion closer to a balanced budget. They said the state could bring in $110 million more each year in Medicaid money from the federal government than it does now.

“This is free money. Yes, free matching money for dollars Illinois is already spending. And Illinois is woefully inadequate at securing it,” said Mark Newton, CEO of Chicago’s Swedish Covenant Hospital.