Williamson (W.Va.) Memorial Hospital needs to restructure its debt or find a new owner to remain open, according to the Williamson Daily News.
The 76-bed hospital, owned by Williamson-based Mingo Health Partners, entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 21. Though the hospital's owners are taking steps to improve its financial position, the hospital may close by the end of the year, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act Notification letter obtained by the Williamson Daily News.
"This is to advise you that Williamson Memorial Hospital may permanently close its hospital facility. If it occurs, the exact date of the closing is unknown at this time but should take place approximately on or before Dec. 21, 2019," the letter read, according to the report. "Current ownership is using its best efforts to restructure the debt through Chapter 11 bankruptcy and keep the hospital operating under new management or find a new owner that will have the resources to keep the hospital open in the future."
The letter said the hospital's financial troubles are attributable to several factors, including low reimbursement rates and "general economic difficulties of delivering healthcare in Mingo County."
Mingo Health Partners acquired Williamson Memorial Hospital from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems in June 2018. Documents filed in the bankruptcy case show Williamson Memorial Hospital owes CHS Professional Services Corp. more than $651,000.
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