On Monday, July 15th, Senator Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) and State Representative Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago) hosted a Latino Health Summit at Saint Anthony Hospital to address the Latino Caucus’ concerns about how hospitals that treat the Latino and undocumented population are being unfairly compensate for services rendered under the proposed provider tax payment schedule developed by the Department of Health and Human Services.

“If that is not enough that hospitals like Saint Anthony Hospital receive some of the lowest Supplemental Payments as compared to other hospitals in communities that serve a different population,” said State Rep. Soto, 4th District. “We continue to deny these hospitals the ability to provide quality care by proposing an even more discriminatory provider tax reform that will hurt these hospitals even more. This has to stop and stop now.”

Attendees reviewed the data we were appalled and felt it was necessary to bring Caucus members together along with leaders in the Latino community to discuss these issues,” stated Senator Iris Y. Martinez, 20th District. Attendees pointed to the lack of funding that was being provided to community hospitals in highly Latino communities. The concern that many expressed was how hospitals are going to be able to continue to operate. “We are tired of our community being ignored. We are planning to talk to the Governor and Director Julie Hamos. We expect favorable results for our community hospitals,” said Martinez.