Weiss Hospital Booted From Medicare Program As Safety-Net Hospitals Problems Persist

Weiss Memorial Hospital in Uptown will stop accepting Medicare patients on August 9 due to a failure to comply with federal standards, as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. An Illinois Department of Public Health investigation revealed shortcomings in nursing services, physical environment, and emergency services. Up to 30 days of payments will still be made for patients admitted prior to the cut-off date, but the hospital's financial reliance on Medicare, which accounted for nearly 65% of its inpatient revenues in 2024, raises concerns about its future. The situation at Weiss has escalated after a recent air conditioning malfunction led to the evacuation of patients during a heat wave. Local nurses have reported that the Chicago Fire Department has been bypassing Weiss's emergency room, creating additional strain on surrounding hospitals.

With Weiss's continued operation under scrutiny, its loss as a care provider for Medicare patients could devastate the community. Weiss has also received over $12. 5 million in taxpayer-funded grants since 2023 to help sustain operations. The CEO of Resilience Healthcare, Weiss's parent company, has not commented on the hospital's Medicare status.