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Posted inInvestigating Responses

Cook County Tried to Rid People of Medical Debt, but, for Many, Help Comes Too Late

by Binghui Huang

Since 2022, Cook County has spent more than $4 million to forgive nearly $500 million worth of medical debt for some 278,000 residents, becoming a pioneer among local governments and garnering waves of positive publicity for their efforts. 

But an analysis of Cook County’s debt relief accounts show that many people like Ciaccio saddled with debt should have qualified for free care, a sign that local hospitals are failing to screen for some of the region’s poorest patients even as some use aggressive tactics to collect debt.

Posted inInvestigating Responses

‘Granny flats’ are illegal to build in most of Chicago —and political gridlock is keeping it that way.

by Alex Nitkin

A three-year pilot program that legalized accessory dwelling units or “granny flats” in some areas of the city opened up more housing options in neighborhoods where cheap apartments have become increasingly rare. But the burst of construction seen so far is a pittance compared to the more than 100,000 affordable units experts say it would take to satisfy demand.

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