Kaiser Health News
Bankrupt California Hospital Receives Lifeline From Adventist, Report Says
by Jonathan Weber
Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:52:37 +0000
Bankrupt Madera Community Hospital has received a last-minute lifeline from the hospital chain Adventist Health, which reached a preliminary agreement to take over the shuttered hospital and save it from liquidation, The Fresno Bee reported July 27.
The deal comes as a federal bankruptcy court in Fresno weighs whether to force Madera to sell off its assets to satisfy creditors. The biggest creditor is Fresno’s St. Agnes Medical Center, which walked away from a deal to take over Madera and effectively forced it into bankruptcy. The hospital closed in January.
“I can confirm the [Madera Community Hospital] board accepted a letter of intent with a suitor,” Riley Walter, the hospital’s lead bankruptcy lawyer, told the Bee in an email. The paper identified the suitor as Adventist, a faith-based nonprofit health system that operates in California, Oregon, and Hawaii and recently took over another troubled hospital, in Bakersfield.
A lot still must happen for the Madera hospital to reopen. Madera County supervisors are considering whether to spend $500,000 to keep the hospital’s skeletal operations running after the bankruptcy court this week declined to authorize any spending beyond Aug. 4. The hospital has also applied for an $80 million loan from the state’s new distressed hospital fund, but it’s not clear how much it will receive.
Analysts said it would take many months to hire staff and resume operations at the hospital, the only one in the rural and majority-Hispanic agricultural county of Madera.
Rural hospitals across California and much of the country are struggling in the face of low reimbursements for low-income patients served by Medicaid, skyrocketing costs during the pandemic, and chronic staffing troubles. Madera also suffered from bad contracts with private insurers and management missteps, according to an article reported jointly by KFF Health News and The Fresno Bee.
Experts warn that reopening will be costly, and that any plan must address the underlying problems that caused Madera to go bankrupt in the first place.
Staffers said they were devastated when St. Agnes walked away from a deal to save the hospital last December. California Attorney General Rob Bonta blasted St. Agnes and its parent, Trinity Health, for trying to “extract every dollar possible” in the bankruptcy after walking away from the deal with no notice and little explanation. St. Agnes blamed the decision on complex circumstances and additional conditions imposed by Bonta, but he had agreed to most demands, experts said.
More details on the Adventist deal are expected by Aug. 1, when the Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to authorize the $500,000 to keep things running and the bankruptcy court will hold another hearing.
Madera Community Hospital board officials declined to comment to the Bee. The Adventist CEO could not immediately be reached, the newspaper reported.
This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.Â
By: Jonathan Weber
Title: Bankrupt California Hospital Receives Lifeline From Adventist, Report Says
Sourced From: kffhealthnews.org/news/article/bankrupt-madera-hospital-lifeline-adventist-health/
Published Date: Fri, 28 Jul 2023 00:52:37 +0000
Kaiser Health News
After Congress Ended Extra Cash Aid for Families, Communities Tackle Child Poverty Alone
SUMMARY: Dr. Mona Hanna, a pediatrician in Flint, Michigan, is championing the Rx Kids program, a pioneering cash aid initiative that provides $1,500 mid-pregnancy and $500 monthly for a child’s first year to Flint families. Since its January launch, nearly all babies born in Flint are enrolled, aiding parents with essential needs like diapers and food. While Rx Kids aims to reduce poverty and inspire lawmakers and donors, challenges remain for expansion in underserved regions like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where substantial private funding is needed. Ongoing efforts seek to raise awareness and secure resources for this impactful program.
The post After Congress Ended Extra Cash Aid for Families, Communities Tackle Child Poverty Alone appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
California Dengue Cases Prompt Swift Response From Public Health Officials
SUMMARY: Jason Farned and his team at the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District have been preparing for dengue’s arrival, with the virus now detected in California. The spread of Aedes mosquitoes, capable of transmitting dengue, has been fueled by climate change and international trade. In 2023, California saw 13 locally acquired cases, prompting efforts like surveillance, pesticide applications, and public education. Authorities are also exploring techniques like sterile mosquito releases to reduce populations. Public cooperation is key, as Aedes mosquitoes are now established in 24 counties, and local outbreaks pose a growing threat to public health.
The post California Dengue Cases Prompt Swift Response From Public Health Officials appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
Kaiser Health News
Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help
SUMMARY: Donald Hammen, 80, relies on his neighbor Julie McMahon for support as he lives alone in Minneapolis. With no close family, he has formed connections with friends, former colleagues, and fellow volunteers, who help him navigate daily challenges. However, he remains uncertain about future care if his health declines. Many older adults like Hammen, lacking close family ties, face similar dilemmas. AARP research shows that only a quarter of solo agers can count on someone for help with basic tasks. Building local support networks is essential, yet many find it challenging to establish reliable connections for assistance in their later years.
The post Older Americans Living Alone Often Rely on Neighbors or Others Willing To Help appeared first on kffhealthnews.org
-
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed7 days ago
Arrest made in I-40 Shootings: 7 cars have been shot, 1 woman injured
-
Local News5 days ago
84% of Mississippi 3rd graders pass reading assessment for 2023-24 school year
-
News from the South - Alabama News Feed3 days ago
Crash involving MPD vehicle
-
Mississippi Today6 days ago
On this day in 1955
-
News from the South - Missouri News Feed3 days ago
Veterans honored across Missouri, Illinois for Veterans day
-
News from the South - Georgia News Feed3 days ago
Who will serve in Trump’s cabinet? | FOX 5 News
-
News from the South - Tennessee News Feed3 days ago
Afternoon Weather (11/11): Dry afternoon ahead
-
Local News Video3 days ago
Will Mississippi ever get early voting? This state senator is pushing for it