Budget cuts could force Roseland Hospital to close

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The budget crisis in Springfield could force a hospital on Chicago's South Side to close. Roseland Hospital depends on funding from the state, and there are concerns that funding will run out soon if a budget agreement is not reached.

On Friday, pastors, activists and hospital workers gathered at their oasis in what they call a "medical desert" on the South Side to call out Gov. Bruce Rauner.

"Gov. Rauner wants to balance the budget on the backs of low-income children," said Rev. Charles Mickens.

"With your help, with your support, we will fight these cuts and let Gov. Rauner know that we will not support this," said State Sen. Emil Jones III, 14th District.

While happy that a federal judge Thursday ruled Springfield must pay Medicare and Medicaid funds to health facilities in the absence of an approved state budget, they pushed back against what they see as the governor's ultimate goal.

"We have to send the governor a message: we know what you're doing, you will not play games with our lives. We must have our voices heard in Springfield," said State Rep. Mary Flowers, 31st District.

Hospital president Tim Egan steered clear of politics, but said his hospital -- which faces cuts in the governor's proposed budget to a range of programs -- is being singled out for austerity.

"This is a critical healthcare resource in this community. As I've said before, and I'll say again, bullets don't recognize political boundaries and this hospital needs to be here, or people will die," said Tim Egan, president of Roseland Community Hospital

Eventually the crowd took over the front sidewalk and prayed for an institution they say save lives, and is itself a monument to the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

"Closing Roseland is committing genocide," said Rev. A. Edward Davis.

Late Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for Gov. Rauner said that the struggles at Roseland "highlight the need for a balanced budget and reforms to state government that will free up resources to help the most vulnerable."

Many of the city's most vulnerable are treated at Roseland Hospital. In fact, 71 percent of the revenue for Roseland Hospital comes from Medicare and Medicaid.