BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – As the fate of Claxton-Hepburn Hospital hangs over a fiscal cliff, Ogdensburg City Council formally called on North Star Alliance and the State Department of Health to set aside differences and keep the doors open.

State lawmakers, North Star Alliance officials, and the Department of Health are working to ensure funding continues for Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, according to Assemblyman Scott Gray of Watertown.

Talks have been underway since Thursday afternoon, following reports that the Vital Access Provider Assurance Program (VAPAP) stopped funding North Star Alliance around July.

As part of a state-directed transformation, North Star has been restructuring into a Critical Access Hospital/Safety Net model. The Department of Health (DOH) was aware that this transition could temporarily disrupt billing and require close coordination and timely financial support. However, that support did not materialize, leaving the system with more than $120 million in unpaid charges and nearly $90 million in accounts payable, with no clear path to resolving the backlog.

State officials say the problems are related to spending disclosures, with the DOH requesting detailed tracking of funds issued to date. Meanwhile, North Star Alliance CEO Richard Duvall says he has provided all the information requested.

Despite the urgings against politicizing the issue by Assemblyman Scott Gray, there has been some digs on booths sides of the isle.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who is challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul for her seat, pointed the finger at her opponent in a series of press releases. Meanwhile, media reports say the governor’s office issued a statement that Republican state reps were being “suckered” regarding the payroll claims.

On Monday City Council asked both sides to focus on the impact rather than the politics.

“After reviewing recent news reports since December 4 about the fiscal challenges at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and North Star Health Alliance, City Council’s primary concern is how this affects the people of Ogdensburg. Our residents depend on CHMC every day for emergency care, outpatient services, specialty services, and the security of having a hospital close to home,” Mayor Michael Tooley said in a prepared statement.

“City Council urges all parties – hospital leadership, state officials and North Star Health Alliance – to set aside differences and find a solution that protects access to care for the people of Ogdensburg and maintains employment of hospital staff dedicated to such care.”

Tooley said council is encouraged to learn from reports in various media outlets since December 4 that discussions among the parties are underway. 

“The residents of our city anticipate good-faith discussions will result in the release of the funding commitments to the hospital in its agreement with the state,” he said.

Tooley said CHMC’s transition to a Critical Access Hospital is moving forward as federal approval was recently secured. That momentum is essential and must not be lost.

“CHMC has been a lifeline for this community for over 140 years. Allowing the hospital to close would result in the loss of valuable jobs, not to mention the erosion of services that would force residents to travel farther for urgent care, putting vulnerable families at real risk.

 Ogdensburg needs this hospital, and more importantly, our residents need it. City Council strongly calls on all parties to come together and deliver a solution that ensures CHMC’s future and protects the health and safety of our community.”

Although talks are ongoing, Gray said no announcements were expected today.

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