[The following is a paid advertisement.]

Hospital spending on payroll, supplies, services and capital projects spur $135.5 billion in economic activity annually that helps build vibrant communities across the state. A new report from the Illinois Health and Hospital Association, “Communities Win When Local Hospitals Are Strong,” shows how valuable Illinois’ over 200 hospitals and 40 health systems are to the state and local economies.

Key economic contributions of Illinois hospitals include:

• Supporting over 500,000 jobs;
• Spurring job creation in other sectors: Every Illinois hospital job leads to 1.6 jobs in other sectors; and
• Creating a ripple effect in spending: Every dollar hospitals spend results in another $1.40 in economic activity.

Illinois hospitals are major employers and purchasers of supplies and services. They continue to drive economic spending despite financial pressures, including the loss of up to $57 billion in federal Medicaid matching funds over the next 10 years due to H.R. 1. As hospitals support communities, they ask Illinois legislators to support them: Pass House Bill 2371 SA 2 in the House to restore the federal 340B drug discount program in Illinois. Learn more.