Weiss Memorial Hospital, located at 4646 N. Marine Drive, will no longer accept Medicare patients starting next month due to a compliance investigation by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this decision after the hospital was found to be in non-compliance in three significant areas: nursing services, physical environment, and emergency services.
This termination of Weiss’ participation in the Medicare program comes after a state investigation revealed ongoing issues at the facility.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), CMS has the authority to make such a decision, affirming their commitment to ensuring patient safety and quality healthcare in Illinois.
Details surrounding the investigation that led to Weiss’ termination from the Medicare program were not disclosed; however, the hospital’s problems have been evident in recent months.
Compounding these issues, Weiss’ air conditioning system failed last month, causing temperatures within the hospital to rise to 92 degrees during a heat wave in Chicago.
Effective August 9, Medicare will cease payments for inpatient services at Weiss, although payments will still be made for patients admitted prior to that date.
Despite being monitored by state agencies for operational compliance, Weiss has received significant taxpayer funding.
Since the beginning of 2023, Weiss Memorial Hospital and its parent company, Resilience Healthcare, have garnered over $12.5 million through the Hospital Health Protection Grants, designed to support safety-net hospitals.
Dr. Manoj Prasad, CEO of Resilience Healthcare, did not respond to multiple requests for comment regarding the hospital’s loss of access to the Medicare program.
Nurses from neighboring hospitals expressed concerns about the impact this development will have on the healthcare system.
The Chicago Fire Department has already been bypassing Weiss’ emergency room, placing additional strain on surrounding hospitals, according to one emergency room nurse who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
This nurse emphasized that the loss of Weiss as a facility accepting Medicare patients, or a potential closure, would be a significant detriment to the community.
The deteriorating conditions at Weiss are widely recognized, and the nurse highlighted the frustration in navigating healthcare access amid these challenges.
In 2019, California-based private equity firm Pipeline Health acquired Weiss alongside West Suburban and Westlake Hospital for a reported $70 million from Tenet Healthcare.
Following the acquisition, Pipeline faced legal challenges after it closed Westlake almost immediately after the sale, breaking a commitment to keep the hospital operational.
In a controversial move in 2021, Weiss’ ownership sold a parking lot for $8 million to a developer, who subsequently constructed a 300-unit apartment building on the site, leading to protests from the local community.
Less than four years post-acquisition, Pipeline sold Weiss and West Suburban to Prasad’s Resilience Healthcare for $92 million in 2022, including a $12 million refund intended for reinvestments into the hospital.
Community members have voiced dissatisfaction with both Weiss and West Suburban under Prasad’s leadership.
The PCC Wellness Center, a nonprofit that has provided family medicine services and conducted deliveries at West Suburban for generations, expressed shock when Prasad terminated a longstanding partnership, citing insurance liability concerns.
Earlier this year, the residency program at West Suburban, which trains young doctors, lost its accreditation due to reported “dangerous” conditions.
The situation at Weiss Memorial Hospital highlights ongoing concerns regarding healthcare access and quality in the region and underscores the critical challenges facing safety-net hospitals amid regulatory scrutiny.
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