Silver Cross CEO Praises Lawmakers for Senate Bill 788 Vote

By Paul Pawlak | CEO, Silver Cross Hospital

On behalf of Silver Cross Hospital and our patients, employees, medical staff, and Board of Directors, I want to express our deep appreciation to State Senator Michael Hastings, State Senator Patrick McGuire, State Representative Larry Walsh, Jr., and State Representative Natalie Manley for voting “Yes” on Senate Bill 788, critical legislation to support health care in our community.

Not only will Senate Bill 788 save the state $411 million through a combination of cuts, savings, fraud and abuse reductions, and increased federal funds, it will help ensure that the most vulnerable in our community – children, senior citizens, families, people with disabilities or mental illness – will be able to receive the health care they need when they need it.

Silver Cross and hospitals across Illinois strongly supported this legislation as a reasonable and sensible approach to controlling healthcare costs for our state without sacrificing needed patient care. As a part of Senate Bill 788, hospitals agreed to contribute their share to address the state budget by paying a higher assessment to the state to preserve federal matching funds for health care services under the Medicaid program.

Senator Walsh and Representative McGuire are to be commended for recognizing the important role of their hospitals in providing high quality health care services, keeping the local economy strong, and transforming Medicaid and the health care system for better outcomes and lower costs. As the General Assembly works to finalize the state budget this summer, we urge our local legislators to continue supporting the key health care provisions of Senate Bill 788 – and to make sure they are included in the final budget package.

Paul Pawlak

President/CEO

Silver Cross Hospital