Caring for Lawndale’s neediest residents is fundamental to the mission of Saint Anthony Hospital, and the outcome of Medicaid reform discussions in Springfield will have big implications for both the hospital and community residents. With the state significantly in debt, Governor Quinn is looking to slash Medicaid funding by $2.7 billion. In particular, he recently proposed $675 million in cuts to healthcare providers, like Saint Anthony, which could have a disproportionate impact on the Lawndale neighborhood and its community hospital.
As a safety-net provider, Saint Anthony Hospital treats nearly 30,000 Medicaid patients every year. That’s one out of every two patients that walks through the hospital’s doors. With more than half of its current patients being of Hispanic descent and another third African American, minority populations are positioned to be most impacted. “We’ve been part of the fabric of this community for more than a century,” said Saint Anthony Hospital President and CEO, Guy Medaglia. “We’re invested in our neighbors. We don’t just provide enough care for patients to get by. We provide the very highest quality of care.”
If provider cuts are levied evenly across hospitals, high-quality, culturally sensitive services like these could be in jeopardy. Patient advocates worry that this could create healthcare deserts. Hospitals like Saint Anthony don’t have enough paying patients to offset the cuts proposed by the state. “It’s not right for the state to balance its budget on the backs of its neediest residents,” Medaglia said. “That is unacceptable – especially given that there are other solutions on the table that wouldn’t jeopardize patient care in our community. The state needs to explore those options first.”
Beyond providing quality healthcare, Saint Anthony Hospital is one of the area’s largest employers and economic engines. More than a third of its 1,000 employees reside in the local community, and area businesses rely on the secondary economic impact created by the hospital. To learn more about Saint Anthony Hospital, visit their website at SAHChicago.org.
