Sangamon Digest

Asked by First Alert 4 about troubled Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City, Gov. JB Pritzker said the state is doing everything it can to protect patients but “does not have the billions and billions of dollars” to prop up every struggling health system. KMOV’s reporting has uncovered bounced paychecks, millions in back taxes and unpaid bills, and quality-of-care questions.

State public health inspectors returned to the hospital last week, and federal officials have set a Nov. 17 termination date for its Medicare agreement unless violations are corrected. U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski said the hospital must recruit and retain nurses; state Sen. Erica Harriss and state Rep. Amy Elik have asked the U.S. Justice Department and Illinois attorney general to investigate. The hospital and its owner did not respond to KMOV.