Uptown Community Demands Reopening of Closed Weiss Hospital Amid Healthcare Access Concerns

Community members, healthcare workers and elected officials rallied at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood demanding the facility be reopened after the hospital closed its emergency room and inpatient services in August when CMS terminated Medicare and Medicaid funding. Federal and state inspections cited multiple deficiencies — including failures in nursing and emergency services and a compromised physical environment (notably air conditioning and a makeshift ER that lacked basic supplies) — prompting the federal funding loss. Activists blame owner Resilience Healthcare and CEO Dr. Manoj Prasad for neglect and cost-cutting, while Prasad says he has sought funding, plans to appeal the CMS decision and is working with state and local leaders. Lawmakers and advocates warn the closure creates a critical access gap for Medicaid-dependent, transit-reliant residents and jeopardizes roughly 700 employees’ jobs, with State Sen. Mike Simmons saying the state is prepared to provide conditional financial support. Community groups are collecting petition signatures and racing to meet a federal appeal deadline (reported as Sept. 24) to prevent the shutdown from becoming permanent; for now only outpatient services remain open.