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The health care systems families rely on in Illinois are feeling financial strain as the state gets ready to wrap up its second full year without a budget.
Bigger health care systems such as Southern Illinois Healthcare say they’re owed more than $70 million combined in unpaid Medicaid and state employee health insurance. Smaller groups, such as Franklin Hospital in Benton, Illinois, say they’re now owed more than $2 million. Hospital leaders say, while bigger groups may be able to weather the political storm from the budget impasse, the situation for their small, critical access hospital is very serious.
Inside Franklin Hospital, Jeanne Bierman does her best to make sure there are enough supplies to fill any and every patient demand. But, without the $2 million owed by the state, supply vendors often go unpaid. Lately, it’s left the supply stock running slim in some spots.
“We usually have a backup of eight cases of normal saline. We were down to one bag of saline. Fortunately, we were able to get an emergency supply from our pharmacy,” Bierman said. The hospital says it will always find a way to provide supplies for patients, but many leaders worry their current supply vendors will cut them off unless they can catch up on payments.
“I mean, I probably get one demand letter a week from my vendors saying they’re going to cut us off if we don’t pay out or get caught up to a certain degree,” said Franklin Hospital CEO and CFO Jim Johnson. He said the financial experts often have to prioritize payments, making sure payroll is met while vendors may wait for payments.
The nearest hospital is 20 miles away.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 3:36 pm
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Previous Post: Bipartisan group of legislators opposes another stopgap
Next Post: *** LIVE COVERAGE *** Gov. Rauner’s “unity” address
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Gary Forby never let his hospitals close.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vLBw4AQEqsM
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 3:46 pm
You can beg all you want, this Governor is shameless. It’s like I told U of I President Tim Killeen over a year ago, it’s not that Bruce Rauner doesn’t care because he cares deeply… about destroying Organized Labor and until he get his way all will suffer. At that time President Killeen looked at me like I had 2 heads, when I bumped into him about 8 months later he told me he understood where I was coming from.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 3:54 pm
These are big hits to Southern IL. The two biggest employers - SIUC and SIH - (e.g., resource generators) are dealing with insane blows from the budget impasse. The dominoes are falling and this region doesn’t have what it takes to get it back up and running.
There should be uproar and daily calls for accountability from elected officials to do something - anything. Instead we are back into the cycle of attack ads and blaming the issues on Chicago politicians.
Comment by Unsettled Resident in the South Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 4:02 pm
While I know I am employing a bit of hyperbole, the situation at Franklin Hospital is beginning to sound a lot like stories I hear about hospitals in the third world unable to get needed supplies.
We need a budget!
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 4:10 pm
You ain’t seen nothing yet. When medical providers finally start saying NO’ because they aren’t getting paid for Medicaid (25% of the population) ERs will be overwhelmed.
Comment by BIG R. Ph Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 4:14 pm
How long before we see Doctors without Borders in Illinois?
Comment by Ed Higher Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 5:00 pm
As if Rauner cares. His base is the uninformed and/or heartless.
Comment by illinoised Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 5:09 pm
Maybe if the good people of southern Illinois hadn’t voted so overwhelmingly for Rauner they wouldn’t be in this spot today. Elections have consequences. They voted for this guy, so they will have to live with their choice.
Comment by DuPage Dave Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 6:35 pm
It’s a good thing that voters in Southern Illinois replaced a back-bencher like John Bradley with a powerhouse like Dave Severin.
Comment by Old Shepherd Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 6:56 pm
All the Speaker has to do is “Say Uncle.”
Comment by Hickory Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 7:07 pm
His plan is working just fine. Is there one person out there who really, truly believes that our governor cares one bit? He’s well taken care of, his family and friends have no concerns, so what’s the big deal?
A very proud legacy for the history of ILlinois books.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 8:30 pm
1.4% can’t see your hospital from his back porch, so he doesn’t care about your piddle little problems. $2 mill is dropping some small change to him.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 8:34 pm
Never been happier
If a dem said anything nearly that callous, the baron would be blasting.
Rauner messaging, 200 mph
Dem messaging,………..
Comment by Langhorne Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 10:26 pm
DuPage Dave, it isn’t like Southern Illinois was thriving under Quinn, look at the facilities he closed or threatened to close. I am not saying this to justify Rauner’s hostage taking, I’m just pointing out that Southern Illinois has had issues with government paying bills for a while.
Comment by Southern Wind Tuesday, Jun 20, 17 @ 10:33 pm