Sunday, April 01, 2007
Centegra VP Aaron Shepley Comes Out in Favor of New Mercy Hospital in Crystal Lake - Part 2
People have been trying to get a hospital in Crystal Lake since at least the Ames Bequest, which was broken when the money was given to the Crystal Lake Public Library.
But, let’s take another look at Shepley’s quote from the Northwest Herald:
But, Shepley was out beating the bushes for opponents to the Mercy application before the Health Facilities Planning Board meetings, wasn’t he?
And, Shepley most certainly was in Judge Maureen McIntire’s court room on May 7, 2005, when she read the decision that put the coffin nails in Mercy’s first Crystal Lake hospital building attempt.
The NW Herald again ignores the role of then-Centegra Board member, Crystal Lake resident and GOP powerhouse Don Udstuen, now serving time in the federal prison near Wisconsin Dells.
Here’s the Udstuen connection reported in the Sun-Times’ first story on the kickback scheme Stuart Levine:
As to the kickback scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s press release at the time of indictment talked of
Bear Stearns Chicago managing partner Nick Hurtgen was dismissed from the federal suit last month.
The Health Facilities Planning Board was a tight little coterie of Republican insiders from the administration of Governor Jim Thompson.
The irony of the involvement of Centegra leader Don Udstuen amazes me every time I think of it.
And, what should people think of Mercy’s willingness to go along with the scheme outlined by Levine?
That is just too good a question.
Did Mercy’s leaders figure that Illinois politics were so crooked that they had to “play the game” in order to avoid the fate of Edward Hospital’s rejected Certificate of Need?
You can read the first part of this story here.
But, let’s take another look at Shepley’s quote from the Northwest Herald:
If they follow the rules and meet the state regulations and they don’t taint the process with the same corruption that the last process was tainted with, I will support it 100 percent.Is he trying to imply that he was in favor of Mercy's building a hospital to compete with his employer Centegra the first time around?
EXTRA!! Santa Claus to visit next Crystal Lake City Council meeting and pull Easter Bunny out of his hat.To the best of my recollection, there was no indication that Mercy was not “following the rules” until the Chicago Sun-Times ran a front page story about the whistle-blower suit by officers of Naperville’s Edward Hospital on June 25, 2004.
REALLY!!!
But, Shepley was out beating the bushes for opponents to the Mercy application before the Health Facilities Planning Board meetings, wasn’t he?
And, Shepley most certainly was in Judge Maureen McIntire’s court room on May 7, 2005, when she read the decision that put the coffin nails in Mercy’s first Crystal Lake hospital building attempt.
The NW Herald again ignores the role of then-Centegra Board member, Crystal Lake resident and GOP powerhouse Don Udstuen, now serving time in the federal prison near Wisconsin Dells.
Here’s the Udstuen connection reported in the Sun-Times’ first story on the kickback scheme Stuart Levine:
…in 2001...(Bear Stearns Chicago Managing Director Nicholas) Hurtgen was introduced to Edward Hospital officials by Donald Udstuen.Now, Edward Hospital is not Mercy, but the Udstuen connection to the scheme of shaking down hospitals was plainly stated.
Udstuen was a former close adviser to Gov. (George) Ryan. Udstuen has pleaded guilty to corruption charges. Udstuen, a former chief operating officer of the Illinois State Medical Society, has since cooperated with the feds. Ryan has also been charged and is awaiting trial.
Initially, Edward Hospital wanted to use Morgan Stanley for financing their 2001 project, but Udstuen insisted that it was "important" for the hospital to give the deal to Hurtgen at Bear, Stearns. The hospital did, and the state approved the deal.
As to the kickback scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s press release at the time of indictment talked of
“A $1.5 million kickback from Kiferbaum to Levine” relating to the construction of Mercy Health System’s proposed $49 million Mercy Hospital in Crystal Lake. “Levine used his influence with the Planning Board to ensure that Mercy Hospital received approval of its application to build the Crystal Lake hospital after hiring Kiferbaum’s company.”Here are some of my notes on what the indictment said,
About a month (Jan 23, 2004) after the Planning Board turned down Mercy, Kiferbaum signed a contract with Mercy. April 21, 2004, Board grants Certificate of Need (CON).Levine pled guilty after builder Jacob Kiferbaum flipped to the government side of the case, admitting that he was to pay Levine a $1.5 million kickback from Kiferbaum after Mercy selected the firm to build the Crystal Lake hospital.
“On or about April 21, Levine reported to Individual 1 what had happened at the Planning Board meeting. Levine said that Mercy’s application was approved, and no one could have done it, except him. He said that during the meeting he had negotiated with one of the Board members, and the Board member agreed to vote yes. Levine said that hiring Kiferbaum did it for Mercy.”
Bear Stearns Chicago managing partner Nick Hurtgen was dismissed from the federal suit last month.
The Health Facilities Planning Board was a tight little coterie of Republican insiders from the administration of Governor Jim Thompson.
The irony of the involvement of Centegra leader Don Udstuen amazes me every time I think of it.
And, what should people think of Mercy’s willingness to go along with the scheme outlined by Levine?
That is just too good a question.
Did Mercy’s leaders figure that Illinois politics were so crooked that they had to “play the game” in order to avoid the fate of Edward Hospital’s rejected Certificate of Need?
You can read the first part of this story here.
Labels: Aaron Shepley, Crystal Lake, Don Udstuen, Edward Hospital, Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Jacob Kiferbaum, Mercy Hospital, Nick Hurtgen, Stuart Levine
