Chicago-based Cook County Health and Hospitals System likely faces millions of dollars in budget cuts next year, with more to come, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Health system board members presented a plan to county commissioners to cut $12.4 million out of the public health system in fiscal year 2018, falling far short of the system's $27 million goal, according to the report. County commissioners pushed for more cuts, including eliminating vacant positions or letting them go unfilled. However, the health system countered that filling the positions is more cost-effective than paying other staff to work overtime and ensures the quality of care does not suffer, according to the report.
The county has a $200 million hole in its budget for next year and will continue to push its departments to make cuts, according to the report. For the health system, that means everything is still on the table.
Read the full report here.
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