Cottage Hospital closed at least temporarily Jan. 8 after losing inclusion in the Medicare and Medicare payment program, the Galesburg (Ill.) Register-Mail reported. All of the hospital staff jobs have been terminated. The Cottage clinic remains open, but CEO Sanjay Sharma has filed chapter 11 bankruptcy. A public forum on Jan. 27 covered three general topics: the financial challenges faced by health workers and patients, the mental health challenges currently faced by members of the Galesburg community and the disruption of services and health records. Mike Pearman, a representative from The Workforce Office of Western Illinois, provided information on federal and state benefits that former Cottage employees may qualify for through the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act.
