Norwegian American Hospital is one of several Safety-Net hospitals statewide that could face a dramatic and immediate threat in patient care and jobs by proposed cuts in Medicaid when the Illinois Hospital Assessment Program expires on June 30th, 2018, the hospital announced Tuesday. The Hospital Assessment Redesign Legislation is scheduled to be introduced in Springfield on January 23rd, and Norwegian American Hospital is making major efforts to avoid the interruption of funds during the legislative process. This Hospital Assessment Program enables the state to match federal Medicaid funding and access billions of dollars for health care needs. Norwegian American Hospital receives about $38 million a year from these assessments, and any changes or delays in funding, such as the program being allowed to expire, would be devastating for the hospital since approximately three out of four patients (75 percent of total patients) at Norwegian American Hospital would be negatively impacted by Medicaid cuts.

Located in Humboldt Park, a predominantly Hispanic and African-American neighborhood, Norwegian American Hospital plays a critical role in the well-being of its patients, most of whom are low-income adults and children facing major health concerns such as diabetes, heart disease, and mental health issues. The assessment program allows the West side hospital to provide crucial services in the Emergency Department, Wound Clinic, Cardiology, and the newly-opened Comprehensive Diabetes Center, where limb salvage has become a priority.  Norwegian American Hospital employs over 900 individuals, many of whom live in Humboldt Park, and has approximately 350 medical personnel on its staff. A reduction or change in the assessment program would put these jobs, as well as those of over 25,000 Safet-Net hospital employees across the state, in jeopardy. Norwegian American Hospital has created a petition to the Illinois State House and the Illinois State Senate in an effort to stop proposed cuts in funding to Safety-Net hospitals.