Rhode Island Citizens Push for Landmark Medical Center Sale

Dozens of Rhode Island residents urged state officials at a hearing Monday to approve the sale of  Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket, R.I., to Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services, according to a Providence Journal report.

Speakers told Rhode Island Department of Health Director Michael Fine and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin to allow the purchase so Landmark wouldn't have to close its doors, according to the report.

Landmark employs 1,100 people in the area, and many others have jobs that depend on hospital service contracts, Matthew Wojcik, Woonsocket’s director of economic development, said at the hearing. Others spoke about their experiences being treated at Landmark and how the hospital had saved their lives, according to the report.

Last year, the for-profit Prime received court approval to buy the bankrupt, nonprofit Landmark, which has been in receivership for the past five years. If the deal goes through, Prime has said it will invest $30 million in capital investments at Landmark. However, state officials suspended the transaction from proceeding, saying Prime's application to complete the deal was incomplete. Rhode Island regulators have also expressed concern over allegations that Prime hospitals in California systematically overbilled Medicare.

Earlier this month, the proposed purchase received approval from a subcommittee of the Rhode Island Department of Health advisory council. State regulators have until Oct. 28 to make a decision regarding the sale, according to the Journal.

More Articles on Landmark Medical Center:
Health Department Subcommittee Approves Landmark Medical Center Sale
Prime Healthcare CEO Grilled Over Landmark Medical Center Purchase
Mayor Implores Rhode Island Governor to Complete Sale of Landmark Medical Center