IL hospitals contribute $88.8 billion a year to state's economy

Illinois hospitals and health systems generate $88.8 billion a year and nearly 500,000 direct and indirect jobs for the state’s economy, according to a new report by the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. “Illinois residents deserve to have quality health care and to live in economically thriving communities,” said IHA President and CEO A.J. Wilhelmi. “For hospitals to continue to achieve these goals, they cannot sustain further cuts at the state and federal levels.” Illinois hospitals have sustained more than $1 billion in state Medicaid cuts and $1.9 billion in federal Medicare cuts over the past five years, and 41% of the state’s hospitals operate on slim or negative margins, the report notes.