McHenry Times

Dan Ugaste, House Rep. of Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois General Assembly, expressed his concern about the state's oversight of funds allocated to healthcare facilities during a House committee hearing on Oct 3rd. Ugaste acknowledged the hard work of healthcare workers and shared his personal experience with family members in hospitals and nursing homes.

During the hearing, Ugaste raised the issue of staffing levels in healthcare facilities and asked how many available members of the healthcare workforce were unable to be hired by these facilities. He questioned whether the state was ensuring that the allocated funds were being spent appropriately. Ugaste stated, "So what you’re saying is the money is being provided and it’s going to the facilities and the state is not doing its job in oversight in making sure the money is being spent the way it’s supposed to. So this is a state failure is what you’re telling us?"

Ugaste, a Republican, was elected to the Illinois House in 2018 and is a member of the Transportation: Regulation, Roads, and Police & Fire Committee. He currently resides in Geneva, according to the Illinois House.

The hearing, which lasted four hours, aimed to gather testimony from various healthcare workers, including unions, nursing homes, hospitals, and other facilities, to address necessary changes within the industry.

Denise Stiger, the union organizer for Teamsters Local 743, highlighted the challenging working conditions faced by nursing home workers. Stiger mentioned that some workers have to care for up to 20 patients, and during the third shift, there might only be one Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) responsible for an entire floor. Stiger emphasized that even though patients are asleep at night, they still require care and attention.

The committee hearing provided an opportunity for lawmakers to hear firsthand accounts from healthcare workers and address the pressing issues faced by the industry. Ugaste's concerns about the oversight of funds and staffing levels reflect the ongoing challenges within the healthcare system.