Hospital Workers and State Lawmakers Rally in Support of Protecting Safety Net Hospitals
Onzel Brown, Roseland Hospital worker and leader, speaks at press event and rallies to protect safety net hospitals.
(Scroll below to see videos and speeches from the rally and press event).
(October 25th, 2017, Springfield, IL) — Hospital workers gathered in the Rotunda of the State Capitol with state lawmakers to hold a press event and rally about the vital need to protect safety net hospitals. During the fall veto session lawmakers have begun debating a proposed hospital provider assessment with a new funding formula.
Rally & Lobby Day Recap: Hospital Workers Rally to Protect Safety Nets
Chicago safety net hospital workers from Roseland, Loretto, Jackson Park, as well as healthcare workers from Touchette Regional Hospital in East St. Louis spoke out about keeping safety net open and accessible for life-saving emergency room care, drug and alcohol treatment, and other vital service in low-income and communities of color.
Alberta Mitchell, Loretto Hospital, at Springfield lobby day.
Closing any safety net hospitals would utterly devastate low-income communities, create greater health deserts, limit access to healthcare for those on Medicaid, and cost thousands of jobs. Advocates say that now is the critical time to strengthen and invest more resources in safety net hospitals to serve more patients and families.
Tamara Cunningham Touchette Hospital East St Louis
Alberta Mitchell, Loretto Hospital
State Representative Juliana Stratton, 5th District
State Senator Emil Jones, III, 14th District
State Senator Daniel Biss, 9th District
State Representative Justin Slaughter, 27th District
State Senator Kimberly Lightford, 4th District
Onzel Brown, Roseland Hospital