From the Better-Late-Than-Never Department: Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday appointed three members to the Illinois board that has blocked health care reform in Cook County because … the board has been missing three members.
Welcome, newbies! Now, there’s work to do.
Job 1: Approve Cook County’s plan to shutter inpatient services and the emergency room at Oak Forest Hospital and convert the hospital into a regional outpatient center. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board — memorize that long name, you’re members now — recently voted 4-1 to approve the plan. But in the strange world of Illinois regulation, a 4-1 victory means defeat. The plan needed five votes, a majority on the nine-member board. But there were three vacancies on the board, and one member skipped the meeting, and you can calculate the rest.
Quinn’s move Thursday brings the board up to its full complement of members. The odds of winning a fifth vote would seem to be tipped in the county’s favor. One good sign: New member Richard Sewell, of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health, was recommended by Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board.
On Wednesday, Preckwinkle chided Quinn for dragging his feet on filling the board vacancies. On Thursday — voila! Quinn named his picks. Nice work bringing the heat, Madam President.
Cook County reacted deftly to the obstruction it ran into on Oak Forest Hospital. But its contingency plans still force it to spend $2 million a month to preserve services at Oak Forest that aren’t needed.
Now there’s no reason to waste the money.
The new members of the state board face a confirmation vote by the Illinois Senate, but they can fill the board seats while they await that vote.
Cook County can resubmit its application to transform Oak Forest. We encourage the new board members to get up to speed quickly on that application and approve it. Every month is another $2 million wasted. Let’s get this done.
