Latest news with #OSFSaintKatharine
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dixon council inks agreement with OSF Saint Katharine that allows enrollment in drug discount program
May 20—DIXON — The Dixon City Council on Monday, May 19, approved an agreement with OSF HealthCare marking its commitment to providing care to low-income and uninsured patients. The memorandum of understanding is basically a formality because OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center, a non-profit and a Catholic health system, as part of its policy already provides care to all individuals regardless of their ability to pay. It's really intended to fulfill a prerequisite for the hospital to participate in a federal assistance program that provides drug discounts to hospitals and clinics that qualify, Dixon Mayor Glen Hughes said. The 340B Drug Discount Program, authorized under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act, provides significant discounts on outpatient drugs for certain safety-net health care providers, primarily those that serve a higher number of low-income and uninsured patients, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration website. In Lee County, the median household income is about $68,459 a year compared to about $80,306 a year across Illinois. About 11.7% of people in Lee County are living in poverty, which is nearly equal to the estimated 11.6% statewide, according to the U.S. Census 2023 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates data. That data also estimates that 3.6% of people in Lee County do not have health care coverage, which is less than the estimated 6.2% for all of Illinois. The agreement "does not create any substantive legal requirements on the part of the city," City Attorney Rob LeSage told the council, adding that the agreement doesn't impose any cost or liability requirements on the city. "We're just making that statement that we have an understanding with them and that we're supporting the fact that they are providing services to an above-average lower-income or Medicaid clientele," Hughes said. OSF Saint Katharine is "effectively doing these things already, and by memorializing this in this standard form of wave the magic wand, and now they are eligible to receive pharmaceuticals at a lower cost," LeSage said. "This agreement marks a significant milestone in our continuing efforts to improve healthcare access and affordability for the communities we serve," OSF Saint Katharine President Jackie Kernan said. "By participating in this program, we can extend our resources, making sure that our patients receive the medications they need at a lower cost. We thank the city of Dixon for their partnership and shared vision in making this initiative possible."
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Longtime Catholic health system provider selected as chief medical officer of OSF Saint Katharine
Feb. 16—DIXON — After OSF HealthCare's Jan. 1 takeover of KSB Hospital, now OSF Saint Katharine Medical Center, a longtime employee of Catholic care systems was selected as vice president and chief medical officer, according to a news release sent Friday from OSF. Dr. Glenn Milos served in several emergency medicine roles at Mercyhealth during his almost 14-year career before joining OSF in December 2022. He's also served as vice president and chief medical officer at two other OSF locations in Galesburg and Monmouth since 2023, according to a 2022 news release from OSF. Milos will start March 31 at OSF Saint Katharine and take the lead on the integration and practice of medicine while ensuring consistency in practice standards. He'll also ensure providers take an interdisciplinary approach to delivery of care, according to the release. "We are excited to welcome Dr. Milos to OSF Saint Katharine," Jackie Kernan, president of OSF Saint Katharine, said in the release. "His extensive physician leadership, clinical experience and passion will be essential as we continue to transform care delivery. With Dr. Milos's forward-thinking leadership, we are poised to drive meaningful changes, improve health outcomes, and deliver even greater value to the Sauk Valley." Milos has a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University in Downers Grove and a Master of Public Health from Benedictine University in Lisle. He also holds a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and Master of Business Administration from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and is licensed to practice law in Illinois, according to the release. Milos is replacing interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Joseph Welty, who retired from his almost 40-year career at KSB in December 2020, according to the release. Welty continued his involvement by serving on KSB's board of directors and was named Dixon Citizen of the Year in December. "I would like to extend our deepest appreciation to Dr. Joseph Welty for his leadership and significant contributions as our interim chief medical officer in advancing our clinical excellence work during the integration into OSF Healthcare," Kernan said. Kernan, who has been a part of OSF since 2009, was named president of OSF Saint Katharine in a December news release from OSF. That release also named Drew Fenner, who had been a part of KSB for more than a decade, as vice president. [ Longtime OSF HealthCare employee to become president of Dixon's KSB Hospital ] As president, Kernan is tasked with aligning the hospital with OSF HealthCare's overall strategy while Fenner oversees operations and special projects, according to the December release. The partnership between KSB and OSF HealthCare was made official May 10, when the two organizations announced in a news release that they'd signed a term sheet and expected a full merger. The agreement includes $40 million in funding for facility renovations, to improve access to care locally and to create seamless referrals to subspecialties. KSB was renamed Jan. 1 and became the 17th hospital in the OSF ministry, which was solidified at a blessing ceremony Jan. 7. Of the 920 KSB employees, 900 decided to stay and were welcomed as what OSF calls "mission partners," Kernan said at the ceremony. [ Ceremony marks completion of Dixon's KSB Hospital, OSF HealthCare merger ] OSF HealthCare, headquartered in Peoria, has about 24,000 employees, known as "mission partners," across more than 150 locations. It operates OSF OnCall, a digital health operating unit; OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospice services; the OSF HealthCare Foundation; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups.
