Community members, elected officials say Weiss closing will have 'severe' consequences

Uptown and Edgewater community members and local elected officials are rallying to keep Weiss Memorial Hospital open.

The North Side safety-net hospital will likely close Friday as it’s set to lose major federal health insurance payments starting this weekend. State investigations found a months-long pattern of Weiss being in and out of compliance with federal regulators due to issues with its emergency room, air conditioning system and nursing staff.

As a result of the state’s findings, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will cut Weiss from Medicare and Medicaid. The hospital can no longer accept patients using federal insurance this Saturday.

A group of local elected officials and 171 community members and organizations penned letters to the Centers for Medicare and Medica