Doctors: Cook Co. hospitals can’t take more cuts

A group of Cook County doctors is calling on county commissioners to approve the hospital system’s 2012 budget without enacting more cuts.

Doctors say they plan to present a letter with more than 250 signatures at a public hearing Thursday. The letter says the Cook County Health & Hospitals System’s clinics, surgical and hospital units are already at capacity.

The county has struggled to deal with rising medical costs from a system that serves 800,000 patients annually with free care.

The hospital system has proposed a $283 million budget for next year, but that County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says the county can only offer $248 million, a $35 million difference.

The county board is scheduled to meet Thursday in Chicago.