Ezike joined Sinai simply three months after stepping down as head of IDPH. a elevated authorities affiliation investigation earlier this yr confirmed that IDPH, beneath Ezike’s tenure, awarded Sinai $2.sixteen million in grants labeled “contracts” by way of the yr previous her departure.
Ezike’s case may test the effectiveness of the ban, which is designed to cease public officers from favoring private entities in hopes of touchdown profitable future employment. If she’s found to have damaged the legal guidelines however retains her Sinai submit and pays solely a modest effective, some will conclude the legal guidelines is toothless, specialists say.
“that is the kind of case that these provisions have been created to cowl,” says Jay youthful, authorities director at widespread set off Illinois, which has advocated for a two-yr-prolonged revolving door ban. Arguing that the “prohibitions clearly utilized to her,” he says the case “is suggesting flaws inside the system.”
Ezike declined to answer questions with regard to the investigation. Her legal professional, Heather Wier Vaught, did not reply to requests for remark. beforehand, Vaught defended Ezike to the BGA, contending the grants IDPH awarded Sinai did not qualify as contracts beneath the revolving door ban and declaring that Ezike’s authorized advisers informed her becoming a member of Sinai was acceptable beneath the legal guidelines.
The OEIG additionally declined to remark. however when it concludes that Ezike violated the ban and refers the matter to the Illinois legal professional widespread and the chief Ethics fee, she may face a effective of as a lot as thrice her annual wage. Ezike’s wage hasn’t been disclosed, however her predecessor was paid $1.05 million in 2020, Sinai’s most modern annual submitting with the inside income Service reveals.
In a separate revolving door case, Barry Maram, former director of Illinois’ division of Healthcare and household providers, was accused of violating the ban when he went to work for a legal guidelines agency that had contracts involving his state agency. In 2014, Maram agreed to pay the state $one hundred,000 in a settlement, with out admitting wrongdoing or authorized obligation. Maram declined to contact upon his case.
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Mark Doyle, a former Illinois division of Human providers worker, was ordered to pay a $154,056 effective for violating the revolving door prohibition when he carried out consulting work for a agency that IDHS contracted with. The effective was equal to the charge Doyle acquired in consulting prices earlier than funds and taxes.
Doyle appealed to the Kane County Circuit courtroom, which reversed the Ethics fee ruling. however an Illinois appellate courtroom overturned the circuit courtroom’s decision, and the U.S. Supreme courtroom declined to take heed to Doyle’s attraction.
“the concern is, the statute isn’t clear,” acknowledged Doyle, who has not admitted any wrongdoing. “I really feel for (Ezike) as a outcome of I’m sure they’re taking half in video games collectively with her, too.”
although the Ethics fee can levy fines on violators, it may’t drive a violator to go away the job at concern.
“Their enforcement powers are considerably restricted,” says Northwestern college legal guidelines professor Juliet Sorensen, a former member of the put together dinner County Board of Ethics. “If the particular person has already taken the job, to some extent, the harm is already carried out.”
Sinai spokesman Dan Regan declined to answer questions with regard to the ethics investigation, Sinai’s funds or how the investigation impacts Ezike’s position as CEO. In a written assertion, he acknowledged Sinai and Ezike carry out their duties “in compliance with all metropolis, county, state, and federal legal guidelines, guidelines, and guidelines.”
Ezike has been suggested to not negotiate or signal contracts with state companies whereas the investigation is pending, a supply conversant inside the matter says, placing some typical actions for a hospital CEO off-limits. these duties are at the second being dealt with elsewhere inside Sinai.
If Ezike is found to have violated the revolving door ban, any contracts she would possibly signal on Sinai’s behalf may even be invalid, says Ricardo Meza, former Illinois authorities inspector widespread and now managing associate at Meza legal guidelines.
“If any particular person doesn’t have authority to maintain a place, they don’t have authority to execute contracts on behalf of any particular person,” Meza says.
the bounds on Ezike come at a time of extreme monetary strain for hospitals, as federal COVID-19 discount funding dwindles and inflation drives up prices. a mannequin new report from Kaufman hall & Associates and the American Hospital affiliation reveals that elevated than half of U.S. hospitals are anticipated to lose money this yr.
The situation is very acute for safety-web hospitals like Sinai. safety-nets predominantly serve sufferers on Medicaid and Medicare, which usually pay hospitals decrease than private insurers.
“They actually have a very small margin of error,” says Duane Fitch, a associate at accounting agency Plante Moran, who has labored with safety-web hospitals in Chicago. “They don’t have the enormous stability sheets like one other organizations that will assist them by way of a quantity of of the tough occasions.”
virtually 60% of Sinai’s sufferers are on Medicaid, Ezike informed well being information Illinois at the second. That makes the hospital closely depending on state well being companies that dole out Medicaid dollars. Ezike’s familiarity with these companies is most seemingly going why she was a best possibility for the CEO position at Sinai, youthful of widespread set off Illinois says.
As head of IDPH for three years, Ezike turned one in every of many state’s most acquainted faces, displaying repeatedly beside Gov. J.B. Pritzker to current Illinoisans well being steering by way of the worst of the pandemic.
“in any case, you’ll like the earlier, terribly seen head of a state agency that you merely handle every day,” youthful says.
Sinai board chair Vincent Williams did not reply to requests for remark. however in a press launch asserting Ezike’s appointment in April, Williams acknowledged: “After an intensive selection course of, we’re assured Dr. Ezike has the imaginative and prescient and dedication to steer Sinai Chicago into its subsequent century of service.”
the selection to lease Ezike for such an important position regardless of the revolving door ban raises questions with regard to the board’s judgment, says Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus inside the division of political science on the college of Illinois Springfield and former legislative analyst for the Illinois widespread meeting.
“i am perplexed as to why this did not elevate pink flags with the hospital,” Redfield says. “Why would you permit this?”
This story first appeared in our sister publication, Crain’s Chicago enterprise.
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