Last night, Mr. Obama said families and small businesses are going bankrupt trying to pay for insurance. Back home in Chicago, the problem of providing medical assistance is evident. Last week, the American College of Emergency Physicians called for a congressional investigation into what’s being called the Urban Health Initiative. They say it violates federal patient dumping laws. But the Health Initiative defends itself by saying that about 40 percent of its ER patients don’t have actual emergencies. Dr. Nick Joriles of the ACEP says he doesn’t buy that number. Richard Steele talks with Dr. Eric Whitaker, executive director of the Urban Health Initiative. And he says the hospital has few other options that to follow this plan.

Full disclosure: Dr. Whitaker is a member of the Chicago Public Radio Board of Directors.