League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board

Cook County Board Has Hearing on Cook County Health Budget for 2021

11/9/2020

0 Comments

 
Cook County Finance Committee Departmental Budget Hearings
November 4, 2020


Cook County Health (CCH)

Proposed 2021 Budget - $3,387B                             Proposed FTES for 2021 - 6743
2020 Budget Amount -  $2,824 Billion                   2020 Budget FTEs - 6601
Difference - Increase of $653M (20%)                     Difference - Increase of 142
​
Highlights of Presentation and Questions:
  • The increase in the 2021 budget is primarily due to the increase in County Care membership which affects both revenue and expenses and the staff increase for the County Jail due to Covid-19 requirements. Layoff’s occurred in the summer of 2020 to reduce the year’s deficit. Any additional union job cuts will likely result in filling openings in other areas.
  • The increase in the 2021 FTE's is due to Covid-19 requirements at the jail, managed care, and hiring 91 permanent employees to replace Agency temporary hires.  . Commissioner Degnan asked that the projected savings by bringing agency positions in house be tracked to include not only compensation but benefits.  
  • County Care Revenues for 2021 projected at $2.2 billion due to increased enrollment due to Covid-19 and employer layoffs.
  • Overtime costs are expected to come down from a 9% of payroll high in 2020 to 6% in 2021.  And Commissioner Suffredin highlighted the System’s focus on improving the “prior authorization process” to reduce denials and thereby increase revenues.
  • During this four-hour meeting, there were surprisingly few questions about budget numbers.  Most of the Commissioners were very concerned about service impact to their constituents.  There is only one service elimination.  The in-patient pediatrics which averages a little over 2 patients per day is suspended for fiscal year 2021.  Originally, CCH said it would be eliminated, but has now changed to suspended, likely due to internal and external pressures.  Interim CEO Carey and Interim Budget Chief Gibson held their ground on the necessity for and the reasoning behind service cuts.  
  • Most of the questions were about clinical care especially mental health services and the consolidation of south side’s two ambulatory clinics into the Provident Clinic affecting approximately 9,000 patients.  
  • Interim CEO Carey gave a clarion call that something has to be done about charity care stating that CCH cannot continue to absorb the more than $312 million in charity care costs [$320 in 2020 due to COVID and people staying home].
  • The reversal of the Affordable Care Act was also a topic  In its budget presentation, the System estimated a loss of approximately $600 million annually in County Care capitation revenue, another at least $100 million annually from other Managed Care providers, and an increase of $700 million annually in uncompensated care costs.  
  • Regarding the public’s concern about the Morton School Clinic, Carey said the System is very close to closing on an agreement to transfer services.  And the Lurie Partnership is taking over the services at the Child Advocate Center.  
  • All Physical Therapy services will be centered in space developed in Harrison Square, which is the name now given to the old Stroger Hospital Building.
  • Of the approximately 5,000 inmates at Cermak, it is estimated that 2,000 are listed as having mental health issues.  Very little discussion on the COVID-19 contact tracing but a hearing has been requested I believe by Commissioner Suffredin on this issue.
  • An unknown for 2021 is the potential impact on the CCH System if Mercy Hospital closes for both regular and charity care patients.
Observer – Diane Edmundson                                                     Length of Meeting - 4 hours
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each post.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Assessor
    Ballot Referendum
    Board Of Review
    CCHHS
    Chief Judge
    Contracts
    Cook County Board
    Cook County Budget
    Cook County Health (CCH)
    Cook County Sheriff
    County Clerk
    Covid 19
    Criminal Justice
    Departmental Budget Hearings
    Economic Development
    Election Administration
    Environmental Control
    Ethics Ordinance
    Gun Violence
    Healthcare
    Independent Inspector General
    Paid Sick Leave
    Pensions
    Performance Based Management
    Police Matters
    Public Defender
    Recorder Of Deeds
    Shakman
    Soda Tax
    State's Attorney Office
    Taxes
    Tax Incentives
    Technology
    Transportation Plan

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 x 127
info@lwvcookcounty.org
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board