Cumberland River Hospital in Celina, Tenn., was tentatively slated to reopen Jan. 1, 2020, roughly 10 months after it shut down. However, the reopening timeline has been pushed back because the hospital does not have a Medicare provider number, according to TV station WTVF.
In January, officials announced that Cumberland River Hospital was shutting down due to financial challenges. The hospital's more than 140 employees were laid off when the facility closed on March 1.
Johnny Presley, a physician assistant, formed Rural Hospitals & Clinics of America to buy Cumberland River Hospital in August. He paid $200,000 for the hospital, which sold for more than $6 million in 2012.
Mr. Presley has bought new equipment and supplies for the hospital, but he's unable to reopen the facility because it doesn't have a Medicare provider number.
"It's hung up on the federal level," Mr. Presley told the Herald-Citizen. "We're at their mercy. They're preventing me from treating people of the Upper Cumberland."
Once the hospital receives a Medicare provider number, it will be able to reopen and collect reimbursement for services. Mr. Presley is seeking an emergency expedited hearing process with Medicare, according WTVF.
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