Cook County (Ill.) Health and Hospitals System's independent board may have some of its duties restructured, as Board President Preckwinkle works on next year's county budget, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
Cook County Health has been mired with financial woes. This year alone, the health system reported a $96 million budget shortfall, making up the large majority of the county's overall $116 million deficit, according to the report.
Consequently, Ms. Preckwinkle is considering folding some of the independent health system board's duties and shifting them to county administration. Those may include some human resources and purchasing duties, though Ms. Preckwinkle is also considering privatizing the health system or creating a separate tax body for the health system, according to the report.
Critics that include county commissioners and government watchdog organizations believe the independent hospital board should remain intact because of board members' experience in healthcare administration. As Ms. Preckwinkle considers all the options while drafting the county budget, she also plans to meet with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to address the state's backlog of Medicaid bills.
Read the Chicago Tribune report about Cook County Health and Hospitals System.
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Cook County Health has been mired with financial woes. This year alone, the health system reported a $96 million budget shortfall, making up the large majority of the county's overall $116 million deficit, according to the report.
Consequently, Ms. Preckwinkle is considering folding some of the independent health system board's duties and shifting them to county administration. Those may include some human resources and purchasing duties, though Ms. Preckwinkle is also considering privatizing the health system or creating a separate tax body for the health system, according to the report.
Critics that include county commissioners and government watchdog organizations believe the independent hospital board should remain intact because of board members' experience in healthcare administration. As Ms. Preckwinkle considers all the options while drafting the county budget, she also plans to meet with Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to address the state's backlog of Medicaid bills.
Read the Chicago Tribune report about Cook County Health and Hospitals System.
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