Wednesday, April 24, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
MASSENA – The Massena Memorial Hospital Community Coalition will meet at 5 p.m. Aug. 5 at Dar’s as part of an ongoing effort to keep the health care facility from privatizing. The coalition was …
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MASSENA – The Massena Memorial Hospital Community Coalition will meet at 5 p.m. Aug. 5 at Dar’s as part of an ongoing effort to keep the health care facility from privatizing.
The coalition was formed by hospital employees and community members who want MMH to remain a municipally-owned medical center.
The meeting follows a recent decision by Massena Memorial Hospital’s Board of Managers to hire Hancock Estabrook, LLP to investigate transitioning the facility from a municipal entity to a private non-profit.
A release issued by the coalition invites community members to join the meeting.
“We urge everyone to attend, ask questions, and help keep Massena Memorial Hospital a public hospital,” the release said.
Hospital officials posed the idea of becoming a private non-profit operation as state retirement and pensions costs began to soar.
According to MMH officials, the hospital is looking at a $15 million loss in reimbursements and is under a directive from the state health commissioner to look at the potential of merging or collaborating with other facilities. Its options for this are limited as a municipal hospital.
Retirement contributions have risen exponentially over the last decade and they are expected to keep going up, MMH officials said. The hospital must pay $4.4 million into the state retirement system by December 1, compared to a $124,200 contribution in 2002. That is expected to go up to $4.8 million in December 2014. Officials say the projected losses also include $10.5 million reduction in Medicare reimbursements stemming from the Affordable Care Act.
Despite the financial situation members of the coalition say privatizing the hospital would mean a loss of public control over the hospital and a reduction in good jobs, which support the local economy.
“Our time to fight for our MMH is dwindling. The time to get involved is now,” the coalition’s release said.
The group a petition opposing the change at www.change.org/petitions/keep-mmh-public.
The group also operates a Facebook page. www.facebook.com/ourmmh?fref=ts.
