Cleveland Clinic slammed for limited charity care amid area layoffs

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) on Tuesday criticized Cleveland Clinic for not providing enough uncompensated care to the area's low-income residents, reports The Plain Dealer. Nearby MetroHealth System, responsible for taking care in part of the area's poor, on Monday announced it would be cutting 450 jobs, reports Fox 8 Cleveland, leaving what could be a vacuum for charity care.

"We have to have a whole new discussion in our community about every institution sharing equally in the burden of uncompensated care," Kucinich said at a news conference, reports The Plain Dealer. "It is time to put this on the table."

Kucinich said Cleveland Clinic should have provided an additional $44 million in charity care between 2006 and 2009, according to the article. However, Cleveland Clinic notes that it provides more benefits to the community aside from uncompensated care, including research and education.

According to tax documents, Cleveland Clinic has provided $537.4 million in community benefits last year, including $149.8 million in charity care, reports The Plain Dealer.

Meanwhile, MetroHealth last month announced it was facing operating losses of $6.3 million. To offset the budget troubles, it is implementing a hiring freeze and cutting back on consulting, in addition to cutting 450 jobs, reports Crain's Cleveland Business.

MetroHealth also announced today former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan is stepping down from his $90,000-per-year job as a part-time advisor at the health system. Hagan was responsible for expanding care and community economy, according to The Plain Dealer.

For more information:
- read the Plain Dealer article about Cleveland Clinic
- see the Fox 8 Cleveland report
- read the Crain's Cleveland Business article
- read the Plain Dealer article about MetroHealth

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