CHICAGO - Loretto Hospital on the city’s West Side is facing difficult decisions as federal funding cuts and the ongoing government shutdown threaten its ability to operate.

What we know:

As a safety-net hospital, Loretto serves everyone — insured or not. On Wednesday, hospital leaders led elected officials on a tour of the facility to show what those cuts could mean for patients.

Loretto treats about 13,000 patients each year, and nearly 70% rely on Medicaid. That’s a challenge in Illinois, which ranks last in the nation for Medicaid reimbursement.

Hospital leaders said that shortfall is straining daily operations, even affecting basic equipment repairs. The hospital’s president and CEO Tesa Anewishki said they can’t continue to bridge financial gaps without help from the state.

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