After exploring strategic options on an out of court basis, Thomas Health’s board of directors, West Virginia, has voted to seek protection under Chapter 11 to advance its strategic alternatives, including restructuring options to address its longterm debt.
Chapter 11 will provide Thomas Health with the opportunity to not only lessen its debt burden but also strengthen the system’s ability to meet the new health care payment realities and ensure its future.
Thomas Health is not closing its doors and there are no planned changes to employment, services, or how we deliver care to our patients.
The Chapter 11 process will not affect enrollment of patients or employers in healthcare plans in 2020.
This strategic step allows Thomas Health to align its operations with the realities of the current healthcare industry and meet the ongoing health care needs of the communities it serves.
Thomas Health officials have been publicly discussing these challenges for several
years and have made significant changes within its organization that have saved the health system millions of dollars.
For example, Thomas Health has merged duplicative services between Thomas Memorial and Saint Francis Hospital; consolidated both IT systems to an integrated platform; and built more affordable care clinics for nonemergent patients.
Thomas Health’s financial challenges are largely beyond its control:
1. West Virginia continues to see a significant decrease in commercially-insured
patients
2. Medicaid, Medicare and PEIA continue to reimburse at levels below what it costs
hospitals to provide such services.
3. Many patients are not able to afford their deductibles; although Thomas Health
works with patients to pay for their deductibles through payment plans.
4. Opioid/Substance Use Disorder treatment costs are significant and often exceed corresponding reimbursement.
“By addressing our debt structure now, we can secure the long-term future of Thomas Health. This is not a Thomas Health-only problem. Many hospital systems throughout the country are experiencing financial challenges and are now taking similar actions.
"We appreciate our community’s support as we continue serving the best interests of our patients, employees, physicians and all those whose livelihoods will be positively
impacted by Thomas Health’s mission to each of communities that we proudly serve,”
said Dan Lauffer, CEO, Thomas Health. ■
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