The New Roseland Hospital Thanks Legislators who “Rise Up” in Support of the Hospital
CHICAGO (PRWEB) February 06, 2018 -- Illinois State Senator Emil Jones III hosted a Press Conference at The New Roseland Community Hospital which is threatened with losing $6,600,000 in funding in the new Illinois Hospital Tax Assessment Program being designed by the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA).
“The New Roseland cannot afford to lose one dollar of funding,” New RCH President & CEO Tim Egan said. “We don’t just need to be held harmless, we are demanding an additional $10,000,000 in the new assessment and our legislators are standing firmly with our hospital and other Safety Nets.”
The event was attended by State Representatives Juliana Stratton, Marcus Evans and Justin Slaughter along with 34th Ward Alderman Carrie Austin and Service Employees International Union Illinois & Indiana President Gregory Kelley.
“We are here today because IHA wants take away vital funding and resources that Roseland urgently needs,” SEIU’s Kelley said. “Instead of including our safety net hospitals in the new Federal Medicare funding program, the IHA is proposing in effect that large wealthy hospitals voluntarily donate money to Safety Net Hospitals. You heard that right, our Safety Nets that serve low income communities and communities of color mind you are being asked to effectively beg and plead and justify our funding instead of simply receiving our fair share of Federal Medicaid dollars to continue the good work at hospital’s like Roseland. The IHA’s proposal is unworkable and unfair.”
Sen. Jones has worked on the Illinois Legislative Task Force organized to oversee the new Hospital Assessment.
“I'm really angry right now because it seems like we always have to fight for what's rightfully ours,” Sen. Jones III said. “If you look up the Illinois Hospital Association website, their mission statement says to protect Safety Net Hospitals. This is not protecting Safety Net Hospitals.”
Rep. Juliana Stratton of the 5th District said; “I'm here to express my support of the safety net hospitals. Healthcare is a right and not a privilege. I ask what message are we sending when only privileged communities are able to have access to healthcare?”
“There's no way I'm supporting any bill that is going to close down any of these hospitals,” Rep. Evans said.
In addition to the elected officials, hospital administrators and SEIU members several members of the faith based community from Roseland and the Austin District were in attendance.
“When I say ‘We Will’,” Rep. Slaughter said, “you say ‘Rise Up!’
The fight in Springfield continues and the Roseland Community will continue to “Rise Up!”
Susie Dorantes, The New Roseland Community Hospital, http://www.roselandhospital.olrog, 773.995.3015, [email protected]
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