Silver Cross in the News
Silver Cross announces a new $40 million charity plan JOLIET—Silver Cross Hospital officials on Tuesday announced a commitment to spend at least $4 million a year on charity care for people who can’t pay their hospital bills. Hospital officials said they believe their 10-year plan, totalling $40 million, marks the first time an Illinois hospital has made a commitment to spend a defined dollar amount on charity care. The announcement also comes less than a month before Silver Cross hopes to get approval from state regulators for its plan to move from a low-income Joliet neighborhood to a new site in New Lenox. “We want everyone in this community who comes to Silver Cross today to know that they will be welcome tomorrow,” said Ruth Colby, vice president of business development at Silver Cross. About 27 percent of Silver Cross patients are covered by Medicaid or are uninsured. In 2007, the hospital counted charity care at $2.7 million. To reach the $4 million target, Silver Cross actually will seek out patients who can’t pay, Colby said. She said Silver Cross is confident it can reach that mark because many people who can’t afford care don’t go to the hospital. “You don’t have to be afraid to go to the hospital if you can’t pay,” Colby said. “We will take care of you.” Hospital officials acknowledged that the charity-care plan in part is aimed at answering critics who contend Silver Cross wants to leave behind the poorest patients for those who are well-insured. “We just want to prove that we’re doing the right thing at the right time,” said Paul Pawlak, president and chief executive officer at Silver Cross. “We’re not abandoning anybody.” ‘Small talk’The announcement, however, did not satisfy Joliet City Councilwoman Susie Barber, whose district includes the hospital. City officials have been among the most vigorous opponents of the Silver Cross move, and Barber said the increase in charity care won’t make up for losing the hospital. “That’s small talk compared to what’s going on,” she said. “They’re taking the main thing away from us.” Barber said she still would like Silver Cross to talk to the city about rebuilding at the existing site on U.S. 6 at Walnut Street. The hospital wants to move 3.5 miles east to a site near the new U.S. 6 interchange with Interstate 355. Seeking approvalThe state’s health facilities planning board, which must approve the plan if Silver Cross is to move, meets May 20 and 21 to consider the proposal. The public comment period on the Silver Cross move ends this week, and the hospital submitted its charity care plan to the planning board. Hospital officials said the $40 million charity care plan will stay in effect regardless of whether the state approves the move to New Lenox. 
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