An incumbent senator and a U.S. House candidate spoke out against Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health's decision to tear down a recently shuttered hospital before HHS completes its investigation into the closure, according to the Dayton Daily News.
A group of pastors filed a complaint with HHS' Office of Civil Rights in May arguing the closure of Dayton-based Good Samaritan Hospital, which occured in July, will "have a discriminatory and separate adverse impact on African Americans and women" and violate federal laws, including the ACA, according to the report.
Premier Health previously stated it did not make financial sense to operate two hospitals in the Dayton area, and opted to close Good Samaritan Hospital because of declining admissions in recent years.
A spokesperson for Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, told the Dayton Daily News the senator echoed Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley's pleas to Premier Health to "refrain from tearing down the hospital until the investigation is complete," the report states.
Theresa Gasper, who is running against U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, similarly said, "I stand with the Dayton community, the Clergy Community Coalition and Mayor Whaley in calling for Premier to resist demolishing or disabling the buildings in light of the federal investigation."
HHS will investigate the closure to determine if Premier Health violated any laws in closing Good Samaritan. If found guilty, Premier must engage in corrective action. If the health system fails to do so, HHS may terminate the system's federal Medicare and Medicaid funding, according to the report.
A potential corrective action would be for Premier to reopen the hospital, which could not occur if the building is torn down.
To access the full report, click here.
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