REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HOSPITALS

 

August 31, 2009

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Chairman Butler, Commissioners Collins, Daley, Gainer, Gorman, Moreno, Murphy, Peraica, Silvestri, Sims and Suffredin (11)

 

Absent:

Vice Chairman Goslin, Commissioners Beavers, Claypool, Schneider and Steele (5)

 

Also Present:

 

Patrick Driscoll, Jr. – Deputy State’s Attorney, Chief, Civil Actions Bureau; Stephen A. Martin, Jr., Ph.D. – M.P.H.,Chief Operating Officer, Department of Public Health.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Health & Hospitals of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Monday, August 31, 2009 at the hour of 11:00 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

Chairman Butler asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd):

 

1.         George Blakemore, Concerned Citizen

 

 

        Your Committee has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

 

 

298604

IN OPPOSITION TO THE RELOCATION OF THE COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO THE OAK FOREST HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY CAMPUS (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Peter N. Silvestri and Earlean Collins, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

IN OPPOSITION TO THE RELOCATION OF THE

COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

TO THE OAK FOREST HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY CAMPUS

 

WHEREAS, the Cook County Department of Public Health has been located at its current location at 1010 Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois since 1992, having relocated from its Maybrook County Courthouse facility for the purpose of providing additional courtrooms; and

 

WHEREAS, the facility is centrally located in Cook County in downtown Oak Park, accessible to the CTA Green Line and the Blue Line, the METRA railroad line and the Eisenhower Expressway and numerous PACE and CTA bus lines; and

 

WHEREAS, the facility includes the Department’s administration offices, various educational programs, and public information resources, which are utilized by municipalities, public and private schools, community groups, the press and the public; and

 

 

WHEREAS, Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County is located in the far southwest section of the County and is not nearly as accessible as the Oak Park location; and

 

WHEREAS, the Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County site requires the expenditure of public funds, which far outweigh a long term rental of space in a central location; and

 

WHEREAS, the people of Cook County and their municipalities and schools are better served in an accessible, central location, which has been utilized as such for the past seventeen years.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Board of Commissioners direct that all efforts and expenditures planned for the relocation of the Cook County Department of Public Health be terminated.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Health & Hospitals on 2/4/09.

**Deferred at the Health & Hospitals Meeting on 06/16/09.

 

Commissioner Silvestri moved Approval of Communication No. 298604, seconded by Commissioner Collins.  Commissioner Sims called for a Roll Call, the vote of yeas and nays being as follows:

 

ROLL CALL ON MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 298604

 

Yeas:

Commissioners Collins, Moreno, Peraica, Silvestri and Suffredin (5)

 

Nos:

Chairman Butler, Commissioners Daley, Gorman, Murphy and Sims (5)

 

Present:

None (0)

 

Absent:

Vice Chairman Goslin, Commissioners Beavers, Claypool, Gainer, Schneider and Steele (6)

 

 

The motion to approve FAILED.

 

299999

REQUESTING A MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HOSPITALS TO REVIEW THE COST TO COOK COUNTY OF THE PRACTICE OF OTHER HOSPITALS AND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SENDING PATIENTS TO STROGER HOSPITAL OF COOK COUNTY FOR COSTLY FOLLOW-UP CARE (PROPOSED RESOLUTION). Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Larry Suffredin, County Commissioner; Co-Sponsored by William M. Beavers, Jerry Butler, Forrest Claypool, Earlean Collins, John P. Daley, Bridget Gainer, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Gregg Goslin, Roberto Maldonado, Joan Patricia Murphy, Anthony J. Peraica, Timothy O. Schneider, Peter N. Silvestri, Deborah Sims and Robert B. Steele, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

WHEREAS, the mission of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System is to provide quality health care to Cook County patients without regard of ability to pay; and

 

WHEREAS, the State of Illinois and the Cook County Board of Commissioners in recognition of the need to partner with other non-profit hospitals to reduce the growing number of indigent patients seeking care in Cook County, provide tax exemptions worth millions of dollars with the understanding that the recipient hospitals would provide medical care to indigent or under-insured patients; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune recently conducted an investigation of non-profit hospitals referring indigent and under-insured patients to Stroger Hospital of Cook County to complete costly treatment; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune’s investigation found that patients from non-profit facilities in Cook County and as far as Lake and DuPage Counties are being sent to Stroger Hospital of Cook County for costly treatment; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune’s investigation found that governmental health departments in the collar counties continue to refer patients needing costly care to Stroger Hospital of Cook County rather than to non-profit hospitals in their own counties; and

 

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune’s investigation found that uninsured cancer patients, Medicaid patients with heart disease and immigrants with broken bones have been among those that come to Stroger Hospital of Cook County for urgent follow-up care after being stabilized or evaluated elsewhere; and

 

WHEREAS, the Chicago Tribune’s investigation found that some patients arrive in the emergency room of Stroger Hospital of Cook County with diagnosis, treatment recommendations, discharge slips and prescriptions from other hospitals and governmental health departments, along with maps to Stroger Hospital.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby request that a meeting of the Committee on Health & Hospitals be convened to review the cost to Cook County of the practice of other hospitals and county health departments sending patients to Stroger Hospital of Cook County for costly follow-up care.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Health & Hospitals on 4/15/09.

**Deferred at the Health & Hospitals Meeting on 06/16/09.

 

Commissioner Suffredin requested that Communication No. 299999 be withdrawn.

 

301494

REFORMING HEALTH CARE RESPONSIBLY (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Gregg Goslin, Jerry Butler, Earlean Collins, John P. Daley, Bridget Gainer, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Joan Patricia Murphy, Anthony J. Peraica, Peter N. Silvestri, Deborah Sims and Larry Suffredin, County Commissioners.

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

REFORMING HEALTH CARE RESPONSIBLY

 

WHEREAS, experts from across the political spectrum agree that America’s health system is unsustainable in its present form; and

 

WHEREAS, families in Cook County are presently confronting the high cost of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles and puts them at risk for a possible loss of health insurance; and

 

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled in recent years making it increasingly difficult for employers, including county governments, to provide health insurance coverage for their employees and retirees; and

 

WHEREAS, there are currently many reform measures under consideration in Washington, D.C. and it’s important that any measure makes deliberate and responsible reforms to our healthcare system and reinforces the strength of American healthcare while addressing the shortcomings; and

 

WHEREAS, access to health care must be expanded by making health insurance more affordable and giving Americans more options and control over their health care decisions.  Reform must improve the quality of care by focusing on prevention and wellness, employing technologies to reduce errors and promoting medical breakthroughs; and

 

WHEREAS, the operation of Cook County’s safety net hospital and clinic system is nearly 40% of the Cook County operating budget.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board endorses reforms of the country’s health care system that include:

 

      1.   Reducing health care costs and reducing Medicare and Medicaid fraud;

 

      2.   Expanding health care coverage;

 

      3.   Improving quality, promoting innovation and requiring greater accountability;

 

      4.   Ensuring each individual’s personal ownership of medical records;

 

      5.   Allowing patients to chose their own doctors and preserving the doctor/patient relationship; and

 

      6.   Continuing support for Disproportionate Share Hospital’s (DSH) that supports safety net hospitals.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners urges the 111th Congress of the United States to enact comprehensive health reform legislation without delay before the end of its first session; and

 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copy of this Resolution be tendered to the Illinois Members of the U.S. Congress.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Health & Hospitals on 7/02/09.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Daley, moved to Approve Communication No. 301494.  The motion carried.

 

301495

A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM LEGISLATION (PROPOSED RESOLUTION).  Transmitting a Communication, dated June 24, 2009 from Roberto Maldonado, County Commissioner.

 

Re:      A Resolution Urging Immediate Passage of Comprehensive Federal Health Reform Legislation

 

submitting a Resolution supporting passage of comprehensive federal health reform to restore the partnership between counties and the federal government and ensure access to affordable, quality health care for all.  The National Association of County Officials’ (NACo) Health Steering Committee, of which I am a member, approved the report, Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a 21st Century Health System (submitted), at the NACo Legislative Conference in March.  The recommendations of that report are incorporated in this resolution.

 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by JERRY BUTLER, EARLEAN COLLINS, JOHN P. DALEY, BRIDGET GAINER, ELIZABETH “LIZ” DOODY GORMAN, JOSEPH MARIO MORENO,JOAN PATRICIA MURPHY, ANTHONY J. PERAICA, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS AND LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

 

 

ROBERTO MALDONADO, County Commissioner  

 

 

Co-sponsored by

 

JOSEPH MARIO MORENO, PETER N. SILVESTRI and LARRY SUFFREDIN, County Commissioners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

A RESOLUTION URGING IMMEDIATE PASSAGE OF

COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL HEALTH REFORM LEGISLATION

 

 

WHEREAS, experts from across the political spectrum agree that America’s health system is “broken” and unsustainable in its present configuration; and

 

WHEREAS, families in Cook County are experiencing this crisis right now, confronting the high cost of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles, and puts them at risk for a possible loss of health insurance; and

 

WHEREAS, employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled in recent years making it increasingly difficult for employers, including county governments, to provide health insurance coverage for their employees and retirees; and

 

WHEREAS, millions of Americans do not have health coverage, or have inadequate coverage and as our economic challenges multiply, the problem of health care access grows, further straining counties’ capacity to provide care for the uninsured, underinsured and medically indigent; and

 

WHEREAS, according to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau data, 1.2 million individuals living in the City of Chicago and the surrounding Metropolitan Area are uninsured, and while the majority of these individuals are working, fully 41% earn just $25,000 or less and they cannot afford private health coverage; and

 

WHEREAS, county officials are elected to protect the health and welfare of their constituents; and

 

WHEREAS, Cook County’s Health & Hospitals System is the largest provider of indigent care in the County and the State, currently spending more than half - 55.5% - of its total expenditures in delivering care to the uninsured who do not have the ability to pay for their medical services.  As such, the County does not receive payment for the overwhelming majority of this care, but, rather, it is subsidized by County taxpayers; and

 

WHEREAS, the National Association of Counties (NACo) Health System Reform Working Group, appointed by President Don Stapley in July 2008 and chaired by President-Elect Valerie Brown, has held three regional hearings to explore the health crisis and to hear what county officials believe should be done about it and has summarized its findings in Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a 21st Century Health System which was approved and adopted by resolution of the NACo Health Steering Committee and Board of Directors on March 9, 2009.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners endorses NACo’s health reform principles, as summarized in Restoring the Partnership for American Health: Counties in a 21st Century Health System; namely, that reform legislation should:

 

a.      restore the partnership between county and federal governments;

 

b.      provide access to affordable, quality health care to all;

 

c.      invest in public health, including health promotion and disease and injury prevention;

 

d.      stabilize and strengthen the local health care safety net system, especially Medicaid and Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments;

 

e.      invest in the development of the health professional and paraprofessional workforce;

 

f.        ensure that county health agencies have the resources to meaningfully use health information technology;

 

g.      enable elderly and disabled persons to receive the services they need in the least restrictive environment; and

 

h.      reform the delivery and financing of health services in the jail system.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board strongly urges the 111th Congress of the United States to enact comprehensive health reform legislation without delay before the end of its first session.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Health & Hospitals on 7/02/09.

 

Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved to Approve Communication No. 301495.  The motion carried.

 

 

Commissioner Daley moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Gorman.  The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 298604                   Not Approved

Communication Number 299999                   Withdrawn

Communication Number 301494                   Approved

Communication Number 301495                   Approved

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Health & Hospitals

 

 

 

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Jerry Butler, Chairman

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary