Public Airs Concerns with Healthcare And Mental Healthcare Access at Cook County Budget Hearing in Skokie

Cook County Public Hearing On The Proposed 2020 Executive Budget 
Second District Courthouse, Skokie, Il
Monday, October 28,2019​

Commissioners present: Britton, Silvestri, Daley, Suffredin, Sims, Deer and Miller.

There were nine public speakers.

Summary of the public’s concerns.

• Dr. Dan Engle, Director of Access to Care, was concerned with the continuation of funds for this program, a nonprofit primary healthcare service for low income uninsured, and under insured individuals living in suburban Cook County and Northwest Chicago. He wanted to emphasis   that all who need care whether primary care, laboratory needs, or radiology, have access to these services. The Commissioners said that Access to Care will be funded as it has been in past years. The Commissioners also said they have received many emails in support of this program. The Commissioners requested that Access to Care provide them with the number of uninsured patients.
• There were four speakers who spoke in appreciation of the care they received at the Cook County Health Clinic in Arlington Heights, IL.  
• A Pastor from the south suburbs spoke of the importance of funding Cook County Health and Hospital services for mental health care especially psychiatric online services such as Telepsychiatry. Online access serves those who cannot or chose not to come into a healthcare facility. 
• Three speakers from The People’s Lobby, a member-driven organization of people across the Chicago region who   believe that the well-being of people, the needs of the communities and the health of our planet should be the top priorities of our elected representatives. They are asking that programs that help the incarcerated population with mental health and other issues will continue to be funded.  The Commissioners stated that they are committed to funding these  programs. 

Observer Nancy Marcus                                       The Public Hearing lasted 45 minutes.