A state backlog in determining Medicaid eligibility for nursing home residents is forcing a central Illinois facility to close.

The Pleasant Hill Village in Girard will close Sept. 1. It has paid more than $2 million for care that could be Medicaid-eligible.

As recently in June, there was a backlog of 15,000 cases awaiting Medicaid-eligibility determination involving up to $320 million.

Pleasant Hill officials say that the $2.3 million they’re awaiting in likely Medicaid reimbursement is nearly half of the home’s annual spending.

A federal judge ruled that cases older than 45 days be considered eligible after June 28 and ordered payment on them regardless of determination status.