Lawmakers in Illinois called on the state attorney general to investigate the "morally wrong and reprehensible" closure of MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, Ill., according to The Chicago Sun Times.
In June, the hospital's owner, Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, filed an application with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to close the 314-bed hospital by the end of the year if it was unable to sell it.
Quorum later moved up the closure date to Sept. 30, pending the review of the state board.
But on Sept. 17, the review board postponed a decision on whether to approve the closure after a lawsuit was filed against Quorum.
Quorum closed the hospital, despite the review board ordering it to maintain services until its next meeting Oct. 22.
U.S. Rep Bobby Rush, D.-Ill. called the non-approved closure "morally wrong and legally reprehensible," and is asking the attorney general's office to "determine what, if any, proper legal action should be taken against the hospital," according to the Sun Times.
Rep. Bob Rita, D-Ill., also blasted Quorum's decision, calling it "blatant disrespect" of the board and the Health Facilities Planning Act, which mandates that the board review and approve a closure.
“The board was very clear about delaying the closure, and they went on their own plan to shut it down," Mr. Rita said. "It is a blatant disrespect to the whole process."
The state attorney general's office didn't respond to the Sun Times' request for comment.
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