Welch Outraged by Westlake Bankruptcy Declaration

MELROSE PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside issued the following statement regarding the decision by Pipeline Health to declare Westlake Hospital’s bankruptcy:

“Pipeline Health’s decision to file for bankruptcy in order to shut down Westlake Hospital shows the lengths they will go to put profits ahead of people.

“Instead of fulfilling promises to assist Westlake, as Pipeline’s CEO Jim Edwards declared earlier this year, the for-profit company turned its back on the hospital and the largely black and brown communities that rely on it. We deserve better than this, and I will not stand by and allow a corporation to gamble with the health and well-being of our community for the sake of profit.”

“I will continue fighting to keep Westlake open and serving our most vulnerable residents. It is now more critical than ever that Illinois enact vital legislation to prevent for-profit entities from shutting down hospitals for purely financial reasons. House Bill 123 would require any and all attempts to either close or downsize a hospital to be justified by a certificate of need from the institution’s owner.”