Becker's Hospital Review

21 CFO / FINANCE USDA Withholds Funds From Rural Hospital Project, Cites Slow Financial Turnaround By Emily Rappleye L eadville, Colo.-based St. Vincent General Hospital is putting a major construction project on hold because the United States Agriculture Department decided to pause a loan for the project, due to "the hospital's slower than anticipated financial turnaround," according to an announcement from the hospital's board of directors. "This news, though disappointing, bolsters our collective commitment to Leadville and Lake County healthcare," Paul Chodkowski, president and CEO of St. Anthony Summit Medical Center and CEO of St. Vin- cent General Hospital, said in a press release. The emergency department, ambulance service, primary care clinic, laboratory, radiology and physical therapy departments will continue to be open at the hospital as it works to improve its financial situation, according to the statement. The critical access hospital partnered with Englewood, Colo.-based Centura Health in 2013. The hospital, which has struggled financially, almost shut down in 2015 because voters rejected a tax increase that would finance repairs at the facility. At that time, Centura struck a deal with St. Vincent to keep the hospital open with more limited services. In 2016, the health system and the hospital decided to integrate oper- ations and jointly build a new healthcare facility in the region. Centura and St. Vincent are continuing strategic planning for the con- struction project. "The hospital board's number one priority is this community and their health care. We have experienced adversity in the past and overcame it. Our commitment is to our friends and neighbors. Our focus on solutions for our community's health is un- changed," Byron Copley, St. Vincent General Hospital District board chairman, said in a statement. n Dallas Hospital Unexpectedly Closes By Ayla Ellison W alnut Hill Medical Center, a for-profit 100- bed hospital in Dallas, closed June 2, ac- cording to The Dallas Morning News. Confusion about whether the hospital was shutting down arose June 1 after Rich Guerra, MD, a cardi- ologist and executive board member at Walnut Hill Medical Center, posted a note entitled "Farewell WHMC" to a Facebook page called "Expats of Wal- nut Hill Medical Center," according to the report. Dr. Guerra wrote, "How do I begin? I could start by saying how sorry I am that our journey together is at an end. I certainly am sorry that our Walnut Hill family will be scattering to the four winds." The page was later taken down and employees were reportedly told the hospital was closing. In a statement issued June 2 to The Dallas Morning News, hospital spokesperson Natalie Weeks con- firmed Walnut Hill Medical Center had closed. The statement did not include details about how many employees were affected by the hospital's closure. According to Walnut Hill Medical Center's website, the hospital is a joint venture between a Franklin, Tenn.-based hospital management company and a development company from Texas. Walnut Hill Medical Center did not respond to a Becker's request for comment. n BCBS of Georgia to Stop Covering ED Visits it Deems Unnecessary By Morgan Haefner A nthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia in June stopped covering emergency department services it deems unnecessary for members with indi- vidual plans. e insurer said the policy aims to steer patients with nonemergent symptoms to see a primary care physician, urgent care provider or use its LiveHealth telehealth app to limit costly ED vis- its. If a BCBS of Georgia policyholder receives care for nonemergent symptoms, a medical di- rector will use the prudent layperson standard to deem whether the service is necessary. Jeff Fusile, president of BCBS of Georgia, told WABE, "e cost of care's been going up so much faster than people's earnings. We have got to find a better way to do some of this stuff, taking some of that unnecessary spend- ing out of the system." e policy does not include referrals from a physician to the ED for nonemergent services, nonemergent services provided to children un- der age 14, instances when an urgent care clinic is more than 15 miles away and when care is administered on Sundays and major holidays. "We're not trying to steer people away from the emergency room if they have a serious condi- tion," Debbie Diamond, director of publica- tions for BCBS of Georgia, told Becker's Hos- pital Review. "If a member is having chest pain that they think is a heart attack, they should still go to the emergency department." Ms. Diamond said similar policies have been enacted at Anthem-affiliated plans in Mis- souri and Kentucky. Missouri said it would reinforce the program June 1 and Kentucky enacted the policy in 2015. Donald Palmisano, president of the Medical Association of Georgia, told WABE the poli- cy disproportionately affects the elderly, rural residents and children over the age of 14. He added physicians are concerned the policy places "the patient, who doesn't have the clin- ical background, to determine whether their condition is of an emergency nature." n

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