County health care system needs overhaul
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Daily Southtown Commentary
By Jesse Jackson Jr.
October 28, 2007
Amateur night at the asylum. That's how a nationally recognized
public health expert describes the financial health of Cook
County's health care system.
In many ways, the description extends to all of Cook County
government.
It wasn't long ago when voters were asked to choose between
John Stroger and Forrest Claypool for Cook County Board president.
You may recall that 2006 race. It was incumbent President
Stoger, the "black South Sider" running on the theme
"One More Time," versus Commissioner Claypool, the
"white North Sider" whose theme was "Another
Taxpayer for Claypool."
At the time, Claypool warned of huge "looming deficits"
in pension liability and bond debt and railed that waste,
corruption and mismanagement would undermine county services
and cost taxpayers dearly.
Stroger and his political patrons, the Daley family, hid the
fiscal woes and instead focused the campaign on race - supporting
Stroger as leader of the city's black machine.
Days before the election, Stroger suffered a massive stroke
but - thanks to an all-out machine push - he defeated Claypool.
Machine pol William Beavers then orchestrated the county board
presidential handoff from stricken John to son Todd.
Today, we see Claypool's dire predictions coming home to roost.
Last week, the younger Stroger proposed an unbelievable tax
increase of $888 million.
That, coupled with Mayor Richard Daley's proposed record $293
million tax hike, means the machine's taxing twins hope to
gouge taxpayers for an additional $1.3 billion next year.
That includes record-high property and sales taxes, plus higher
taxes on electricity, gasoline, parking, water, sewer, telephone,
bottled water, beer and wine. And that doesn't include badly
needed money for transit, schools or new services.
So, you ask, what happened to Stroger's pledge to cut spending,
remove waste and trim payroll?
The comment about amateur night at the asylum was made by
Dr. Quentin Young, a former head of Cook County Hospital and
leader of a new group of citizen watchdogs called the Emergency
Network to Save Cook County Health Services.
That coalition is made up of Citizens Action-Illinois, doctors
and nurses, hospital executives and unions who fear Cook County's
once-renowned health care system is about to collapse - unless
new management can restore fiscal accountability and credibility
soon.
Young says the county has failed to collect $200 million in
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, yet "terrorizes
people living in poverty" who have outstanding bills.
His group claims a recent decision to close many clinics is
forcing uninsured patients to seek expensive emergency care
at county hospitals.
They also claim (as did Claypool) that patronage and politics
are strangling the system as the county hires unskilled patronage
workers while laying off skilled nurses and doctors.
Young's recommendations are virtually the same as others made
by other health professionals in the past, including a study
sponsored by Todd Stroger.
They echo comments from federal officials who warn that federal
funds may be threatened if the hospital doesn't improve its
staff and performance.
I recently proposed several ways how city government could
be more efficient and thrifty. Many of those reforms apply
to county government as well.
The county must purge the dead weight and do-nothing patronage
workers in the hospitals and jails, then hire professionals.
The county should end pay-to-play politics by banning campaign
contributions from companies and individuals who do business
with the county. This would stop "pinstripe patronage"
and prevent insiders from "gaming" the system.
The county should require all supervisors and elected officers
to sign sworn statements that they won't "clout"
anybody a job. Those violating that pledge would lose their
jobs, benefits and pensions.
The county should provide real whistle-blower protection so
rank-and-file employees can report corruption without fear
of retribution.
Again, these reforms would improve services and cut the waste,
fraud and corruption.
The typical Cook County homeowner already is stressed to make
ends meet with soaring gas prices, heating bills, mortgages
and property taxes. They need and deserve better stewards
of the public trust and public treasury.
Young's prognosis may sound a bit humorous. But there's nothing
funny about a health care system that is sick and a political
system that is picking your pocket. So, Mr. President, get
your hand out my pocket.
