Three Chicago-area hospitals say a state board should wait to approve any new hospitals until Illinois establishes a Center for Comprehensive Health Planning called for in legislation.

An attorney sent a letter Tuesday on behalf of Sherman Hospital, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and St. Alexius Medical Center to the chairman of the state health facilities planning board.

The hospitals state in the letter that a 2009 overhaul of Illinois health planning calls for a comprehensive state plan that would provide expert, independent analysis to the board.

The legislative overhaul came in the wake of a kickback scandal that eventually helped bring down former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The health facilities planning board is set to consider applications for new hospitals from three health systems during its June 28 meeting.