CHARITY CARE IN LAKEVIEW Updated

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 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, and Charity Care is their repayment for those tax breaks. A recent 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 leaders of the LAC Health Care Task force continue to work to help both Illinois Masonic and St. Joseph’s serve all members of the community, especially those struggling. To join us, please call LAC.

Affordable Health Care Task Force
Updated March 22, 2006

Local Needs Assessment: Task Force members have been researching the various health care providers in and around the community, and determining what services exist for the uninsured and underinsured. The goal of this research is to determine what gaps exist in services, so we can develop a strategy to fill those gaps.

Statewide policy: LAC members have thrown their support behind two pieces of proposed state legislation. The proposals were put forth by Attorney General Lisa Madigan because of the work done by community organizations, including LAC, to inform her of problems within the health care system. One proposal, HB 4999, applies to all hospitals and calls for fair billing and collection practices. The second proposal, HB 5000 systematizes charity care for all non-profit hospitals, specifying how much charity care must be provided, who is eligible and how hospitals must inform patients of the program. While HB 5000 has stalled in the Assembly, HB 4999 passed that house and is now moving through the Senate. On February 28, 20 LAC leaders joined our allies and went down to Springfield to speak to our legislators about these proposals.

Citizens’ Assembly for Healthcare Justice

A public accountability assembly around hospital pricing and collection policies

Date: Monday, April 26, 2004

Time: 7pm (Sharp!) to 8:15pm
-Seating starts at 6pm

Place: Bethlehem United Church of Christ,
2746 N. Magnolia
-Limited free parking is available

Purpose of the Assembly:

1) Inform and educate the Lakeview community about hospital pricing and collection policies

2) Recognize LAC’s work and the positive steps taken at Advocate Illinois Masonic

3) Renew our call for reform of pricing and collection policies at Advocate Illinois Masonic - these policies have been dubbed “discriminatory pricing and predatory debt collection”

4) Launch a community campaign to identify other specific healthcare concerns and issues

Invited to attend:

-State Senator Barack Obama

-Susan Nordstrom Lopez, CEO, Advocate Illinois Masonic

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."- The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For more information and/or to get involved contact Matt Moreland-Gross at LAC 773/ 549-1947 x364

CHARITY CARE IN LAKEVIEW Updated October 2006

CHARITY CARE IN LAKEVIEW
Updated October 2006