By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – The state budget stalemate that’s lasted a full 12 months has already done substantial damage to the health care industry, according to an industry consultant.
Russell Bonanno, a consultant with Illinois Partners for Human Service which represents 850 agencies across the state, said even if lawmakers pass a temporary spending plan, the state has forced a large migration of students and health care workers to leave the state in recent years.
He said if service agencies are forced to close – and some already have, some people will have nowhere else to go.
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“Many agencies are the only game in town for the services that are needed either because nobody else provides the services period or nobody else providers the services to people without enough money to pay for them,” Bonanno said.
He added the cuts to education funding has already hurt the health care industry as college students are leaving the state to get an education and many aren’t coming back.
Bonanno served on Gov. Pat Quinn’s Office of Health Innovation and Transformation Workforce Development Task Force in 2014 and said the lack of a strong worforce was an overriding concern for many in the health care industry.
“They could not find enough competent people to take jobs,” Bonanno said. “If there is no workforce availability there is not reason for companies to come here regardless of business-friendly regulation.”
Bonanno cited a United Way survey which showed more than half of the survey providers in the state would have to close by the end of the year without state funding.
Several local services providers announced this week they have had to cut staff and reduce hours – and more drastic measures could be coming.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
