State renews Get Covered Illinois PR contract

CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration has renewed its contract with the public relations firm that handled promotion of Get Covered Illinois in the first year of greatly expanded health insurance coverage under President Barack Obama’s health care law.

The $25.6 million contract with St. Louis-based FleishmanHillard includes tighter controls over who gets paid at the highest rate of $282 per hour. The first-year contract drew criticism for its hourly rates, which far exceeded contracts other states signed for similar work, when first reported in June by The Associated Press.