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Federal Civil Rights Complaint
Filed against Advocate Hospitals: Dual, Discriminatory
System of Health Care Alleged
CHICAGO (Dec. 3, 2004) – A federal complaint was
filed today by two community organizations charging Advocate
Health Care with discriminatory capital investment practices
at its urban and suburban hospitals.
The South Austin Coalition Community Council (SACCC) and the
Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
(ACORN) allege in the complaint that Advocate invests more
in hospitals that serve predominantly white patients than it
does in hospitals that serve predominantly black and other
minority populations, creating a system of “medical
apartheid.”
The complaint was filed with the Office of Civil Rights of
the Department of Health and Human Services alleging a
violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The
Act prohibits racial discrimination by corporations that
receive federal funds. Advocate receives Medicaid and
Medicare funds, as well as federal research, education and
training funds.
“These policies and practices have had, and continue to have
a discriminatory impact on African American and other
minority communities served by Advocate hospitals, and have
resulted in a dual, discriminatory system of health care in
the Chicago area,” said co-plaintiff Linda Haley of Chicago,
reading from the complaint. “Advocate’s investment, spending
and resource allocation policies and practices are not
rationally related to any legitimate business purpose, most
importantly, Advocate’s own mission as a faith-based,
nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization.” Rose Shaffer
of Country Club Hills also is a complainant. Both are former
patients of Advocate hospitals.
The legal action was brought in response to a study, titled
“Separate and
Unequal: Racial Disparities in Investments at Advocate
Hospitals,” issued by the Hospital Accountability Project.
The study examined Advocate’s applications to the Illinois
Health Facilities Planning Board seeking approval for
significant capital expenditures based on Certificate of
Need (CON) applications from the years 1995 - 2003.
The study shows that Advocate spent almost 800% more – $232
million compared to $26 million – on significant capital
improvements at its four hospitals serving predominantly
white patients than on its four hospitals serving mostly
minority patients. At Advocate Bethany, which serves a
patient population that is 97% black, zero dollars were
invested for significant capital expenditures compared to
the $72 million invested in Advocate Good Shepherd in
affluent Barrington, which serves a patient population that
is 96% white.
“We’re going to end this discrimination by taking street
action and legal action,” said Janice Booker, president of
the North Lawndale ACORN chapter, the area where Advocate
Bethany is located. “We’re not going to let Advocate get
away with treating us like second class citizens.”
Congressman Danny Davis (D-Ill.) voiced his concerns for
quality care for the poor during a press conference where
the study was released. Standing with community activists
and pastors, Davis said: “If you look at the corporate
decision making that is done by the Advocate Health system,
there is a level of unevenness, a level of unfairness. I am
not an enemy of Bethany, but I am indeed a friend of the
people."
“I do believe in equity, fair and equal treatment, and
that’s why I’m here to support the community organizations,
my neighbors and friends, and those who expressed an
interest so we can sit at the table find a solution for this
problem. And I believe we can,” Davis said. |
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Hospital Accountability Project, Service Employees International Union
40 N. Wells, Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 541-9566
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