Cook County Health & Hospitals System plans to boost spending by 5% next year, to $2.9 billion, while holding the line on taxpayer subsidies at $120 million.
The operator of Stroger and Provident hospitals projected that costs associated with charity care and bad debt would remain flat at $505 million for fiscal 2019. The combined figure has grown from $314 million since 2014.
Employment on a full-time equivalent basis should rise 4%, to 7,138.
The hospital system submitted the preliminary figures today to its finance committee. Public hearings are scheduled next week before the budget is forwarded to the Cook County Board.
"We are proud that we are generating 97% of our operating revenues through patient fees, grants and other sources while remaining true to our historic mission to care for all regardless of their ability to pay," CEO Dr. Jay Shannon said in a statement. The $120 million county contribution has dropped from $481 million in 2009.
The current budget is nearly 50% larger than fiscal 2017's $1.9 billion, primarily the result of a jump in membership in CountyCare, the system's Medicaid managed care health plan, to 345,000 from 140,000. CountyCare's 2019 revenue is projected at more than $1.8 billion.
Longer term, expenditures are expected to rise 9%, to $3.09 billion, by fiscal 2021. Surgical cases and emergency room visits are projected to increase 6% and baby deliveries 11 percent next year.
CountyCare's creation was triggered by the Affordable Care Act, which has sharply reduced the number of uninsured patients in the county. Nevertheless, 42% of the system's patients remain uninsured. While charity care increased 3% at Stroger and Provident between 2013 and 2017, it declined 21% elsewhere in the county.
"Cook County health system proposes 5 percent budget increase" originally appeared in Crain's Chicago Business.
Send us a letter
Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
