>> Community members and local leaders are pushing to reopen Weiss Hospital.

The Uptown facility shut its doors last month after losing the Medicaid grants.

It depends on activists are urging hospital's owner to appeal the funding cut by what the funding cut by the federal deadline.

And that is today.

They worry the closure leaves a critical gap in health care access, especially for low-income and elderly patients.

Joining us to discuss the effort are Pittman, longtime uptown resident and organizer with Northside Action for Justice.

Lilly Way organized director at the Vietnamese Association of Illinois.

And State Senator Mike Simmons whose district includes parts of the North side, including Uptown and Ravenswood.

Thanks to all 3 of you for joining OK, sir.

Senator, let's start with you.

Please explain to us what's going on here.

You have said that the 4 million dollars in state safety net funds that were supposed to go to the hospital are being withheld and that they'll be released when that Medicaid funding cut is appealed.

However, the deadline, as we've said, that's that's today.

So quite why make this move?

so we actually just heard from CMS that the appeal is actually been filed by was hospital.

So this is a big win for the community.

>> Myself and your cope.

Analysts literally were on the.

49 on Monday stand in front of hospital.

>> Literally called Dr.

Syed the CEO of this hospital on a cell phone as we demanded that he submit this appeal and we just got clarification that the appeal was filed by the deadline, which was at 5 o'clock today.

It should not have taken this long because reality is that Wise Hospital has several improvements that need to be made for the safety of the patients that use this facility.

It is one of the only safe thing that's on the hot second hospitals in the far north side of Chicago, we have to fight myself and the state Senate fight really hard to get sick in a status for them in 2023 so that they could access to these funds.

so they have remedy the violation.

The CMS has found they will not be able access that 4 million dollars.

Okay.

So it sounds like we're hearing some news here.

You just found out today how late have recently did you hear this and to hear from Dr Persaud owns the company that >> that owns White Hospital.

So we've been in touch of Dr Side has not been communicative.

So actually got the update from Senator Duckworth's office.

Are United States senator.

>> And we've been in touch with her and with Senator Ben to get updates from CMS has their representatives that can get quick updates from them on these types of appeals.

So we're gonna come back to that a little bit.

I want to get Lily in as well because White Hospital has served many diverse immigrant communities, you know, on the north side as well many low-income patients, those who are on Medicaid, Medicare, how some of these folks been getting the medical care that they need in the absence of Bryce.

>> Yeah, I mean, I've heard a lot of concern from the community that I work with use it mostly low-income immigrants and refugees.

A lot of folks right are really just in limbo and waiting for updates from their providers to Right.

last time I was here was 2 months ago and back then folks were telling me that they were not receiving communication from the hospital management about the next steps and almost 2 months later, I still hear the same thing, right where folks are still in limbo.

Still don't know where to go for their next appointment.

And of course, there's also scramble to transfer all the inpatient services and get patients out to local hospitals.

But this talking about right?

Swedish.

But those hospitals are miles away from where the folks that I work with live, right, which time they live, maybe 5 or 10 minute walk away from Weis.

So my concern is that before a population like others who often face health emergencies.

All right.

If they do not have access to emergency room, that's a 5 minute walk away.

even a couple minutes can make a huge difference right in their health outcomes.

And folks are now willing to just postpone their health checkups because of the inconvenience right of having to go somewhere far.

So it's it's possible some people are just going without the care that they need for sure, without Weiss done.

>> you've you've been a longtime uptown resident.

What are you hearing from your neighbors now that the hospital is closed?

I have a hearing here in the same thing at some of and health care, which is concerning to me.

>> In stability, you know, just walk into Weiss.

They know the neighborhood.

We have so many low-income immigrants Bay everything they do it in the community really have affected them.

>> We as a community and when.

Ems come pick them up, we don't know where they taken now because Rex is open lamb with patients.

So it's a big you notice a big deal we try to encourage everyone X and everything.

Weiss going to open windows.

mean, why open?

We have people go dialysis, they have senior activities there for them.

Homeless population used filler and it is very devastating to the community and we just want them ever want to know if out neighbors of not helping.

Den the community.

It's not helping because we really do take care of elders in and everyone in neighborhood.

So take care everyone.

I'm sorry.

No, it's okay.

Thank Lily.

We know that.

You've said that you've been concerned about hospitals, funds being mismanaged.

Tell us more about that.

What what are your concerns there?

>> Yeah, I mean, we know right that over past 3 years, Dr Persaud has been receiving 3 years ago.

Ms was also white.

One of the folks protesting right?

The so the parking lot.

And we know that he received it 8 million dollars from that sale.

And in 3 years we have not seen any concrete improvements right in the conditions in the hospital that it led to a situation where the hospital is now closed is deeply concerning, right?

Because we don't know where that money went and really liked the lack of communication from Dr Persaud side.

shows to us right that he's not really moving in good faith, even the filing this appeal happened at the very last moment.

And I didn't believe it would have happened without the community pressure and the oversight, right, that we've been really pushing for Dr Start to be accountable to the people in the community that he serves.

Senator, what's next?

What what would happen if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should grant the appeal?

>> So if they were to grant the appeal, then we would see the hospital be able to re operate.

The CMS grants, the appeal that that means that within minutes, a safe facility.

And so that will free up the state funds for million dollars that I was able to secure in the pledge.

It too abuse that Weiss Hospital for, for all the things that they need to operate.

This hospital.

We've also secured capital dollars for them to be able to improve their dollars and their old AC systems, HVAC systems.

But Dr Side has got to act because every time we've sat down in good faith with him, he goes to us.

And even this Monday I was not impressed when I called and was sent to voicemail.

And I was saying with the community.

>> Kate and T and like you, we also have not received a response from from Dr for side of resilience, health care.

Why do you think it's been difficult to communicate with him?

You know, I I think that overall the situation spells out the need for new leadership.

>> You know, we have the state has done above and beyond what we would do to stabilize house because we believe in my spine hospital, 2 important resource for the neighborhood of town as a comedian, a far north side Chicago have some the highest concentration of poverty percent since track.

And so these are folks that are going to be health care, even with the Medicaid cuts, the being handed down by the federal government right now, it makes twice even more important.

And so I do.

I really want to see a doctor.

Syed communicate better with local elected officials and with our community-based leaders because we have been trying to work with in good faith and he has not shown up well to the community.

>> This woman, are you wise patient yourself?

whites been healthy so far.

Thank But I know 7 members of one of my grant was have a stroke.

Its service.

You get it was okay.

It could have been better.

But I The peak once again is what we're from mice and men uptown community.

It's what not going stand for it this time.

does not going to do it.

What are some of the improvements that you think the hospital needs to make refined get oxygen?

in the ER?

like I because to become there in the deputy, you know, most when likeness something that breathing.

I jus they did treat have a members are better.

When they do there and have the tools they need and you can be.

Can this open?

Because people's can get in there and get drugs.

I had met effect at have someone that noted, yeah, been there.

That could have been very devastated.

This because of something that they what more do you think the community that community can do to sort of support each other in to take care of themselves?

In the meantime, until this decision is made by the federal government, in the meantime, keep doing we're doing, X and a patient K, I mean, that patient X now numbers, neighbors, you know, are they OK?

>> Make it, you know, we make sure the E make sure if they're going to have that they're you know, if you need some help, some liken go with let them.

So that gets a lot of organization that we know people that ask you to get people's.

you know, to the doctor because have mobility issues.

They can't take that mask.

And if they do take the bus to take so long and you know that that's gets it going to Lilly few seconds left.

You know what if does not grant this appeal for Wise Hospital?

There's still this is a long fight, right?

So even after this, Dr Persaud still has to make the repairs that There's still write a whole year that he can then reapply the next cycle.

>> And truly right, like this woman and center Suns have said this is about public accountability to the community to patients.

So the staff who have also been affected by the sudden closure.

All right.

This is showing the clear commitment that he has to the hospital and to protecting this very crucial community support system.

we'll have to leave the best of luck to all of obviously look forward to