Keicher, Hernandez Seek Answers from IDPH as Mercy Aurora Plans to End Labor & Delivery Care

State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore) and State Representative Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora) are seeking answers from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) regarding the planned suspension of obstetric services at Prime Healthcare Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. Prime Healthcare announced on September 1, 2026, that it would suspend obstetric services at Mercy Medical Center, along with Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago, effective October 1. Prime has also indicated that it will not maintain OB/GYN on-call coverage at Mercy.

The lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter to IDPH Director Sameer Vohra this week requesting information about the impact of the service suspension on patients, hospital operations, state payments, safety-net status, staffing, quality of care and the hospital's obligations under its change-of-ownership agreement that took place in March of 2025.

“People throughout Kane and DeKalb counties rely on Aurora-area hospitals, and changes at Mercy Aurora have implications well beyond the hospital itself,” said Keicher. “We are asking for facts and accountability. Our nurses, physicians, patients and families deserve to know what services will remain available, how emergencies will be handled, and whether the commitments made when the hospital changed ownership are being upheld. We need clear answers.”

Keicher met with Mercy Aurora nurses on September 23 to hear about their concerns. The nurses described significant changes in the hospital's labor and delivery operations, including a substantial decline in the number of births taking place at Mercy and concerns regarding staffing, supplies and the ability to provide care.

As someone who was born and raised in Aurora, Rep. Hernandez knows how important Mercy Aurora is to the community.

“It’s disappointing that Prime Healthcare has decided to suspend obstetric care at the Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. Not only are they disinvesting in maternal healthcare within the community, they’re leaving dozens of medical professionals without jobs and little-to-no time for them to find a position elsewhere,” said Hernandez. “With last year’s revocation of their Level II trauma center designation, these absences of essential services at Mercy Medical Center have caused, and will cause, many of our family, friends or neighbors to travel farther away to seek the emergency care they need. When it comes to medical emergencies, every second counts. Prime Healthcare needs to prioritize the community first, not their profits.”

The representatives requested a written response from IDPH and HFS within 30 days and asked to meet with department officials to discuss the issues. The lawmakers emphasized that their request is bipartisan and focused on obtaining information for residents, patients and caregivers.