What We’re Working On
The LAC Health Care Taskforce has
drafted a Charity Care Bill of Rights that would address how we
believe charity care should be delivered in not for profit hospitals. We
have also partnered with the Chicago Department of Public Health on a
tips sheet, which would aid those seeking out charity care
in how best to access it. We also currently sit on the Community Advisory
Committee for Advocate Illinois Masonic's planned development on the old
site of Inter-American magnet school.
Recognizing that many
people also depend on Cook County Health Services for their health needs,
LAC joined the Emergency Network to Save Cook County Health Services,
which is seeking to restore proper management by taking the control from the
County board and giving it to an independent governing board.
Background
The LAC Healthcare Task Force has
been surveying low income and/or un-insured residents of the community to
determine how they are accessing healthcare and where gaps exist. In
addition, for years we have heard stories of local low-income residents
having difficulty accessing “Charity Care” at local non for profit
hospitals, such as Advocate Illinois Masonic and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Charity Care’ is defined as free or reduced price care for income eligible
people that non for profit hospitals must offer in return for tax breaks.
Anecdotally it is evident that
there are many barriers in place within the hospitals that make it difficult
for people to find out about charity care; and even if eligible patients
apply for charity care, they often still get bills. This is an issue that
many levels of government have recognized and have acted on, including the
Cook County Board, the State Attorney General and Legislature, and the
Federal Government.
LAC’s healthcare task force has
been actively working to ensure that the local non-profit hospitals live up
to their commitment to give Charity Care. Charity Care is defined by the
local institution, but is broadly defined as health care for low-income
individuals or households without adequate insurance. Many low-income
single individuals in Lakeview are not eligible for any government programs,
and without Charity Care, would slip completely through the cracks.
Local hospitals such as St.
Joseph’s (a part of the Resurrection system) and Illinois Masonic (a part of
the Advocate system) are exempt from many local, state and federal taxes,
including property taxes, and Charity Care is their repayment for those tax
breaks.
A study released by the Center
for Tax and Budget Accountability, (found at
http://ctba.inspidered.com/view.php?url=/files/charity_care_study.pdf)
quantifies the amount of local and state tax breaks given to many Illinois
non-profit hospitals against the amount of charity care provided. The
Advocate Health Care System gets over $79 million in tax breaks and has
reported spending only just over $20 million in charity care. The
Resurrection System gets just under $45 million and has reported spending
just under 14 million in Charity Care.
The Cook County Assessor’s office
also just released a report documenting the value of the property tax breaks
received by not for profit hospitals in Cook County as around $241 million
in total. (Report
can be found here)
Health Care
Archives
The Health Care Task Force meets on a monthly
basis. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Joline at (773)
549-1947 x387 or
jprice@lakeviewaction.org.
(Last updated: 06/2008)
