Editor’s Note: The following editorial column was written by My Buckhannon publisher/owner Brian Bergstrom.
The next few weeks may be the most important in the history of Upshur County.
If that sounds like an exaggeration, it’s not. A series of key events will determine the future trajectory of St. Joseph’s Hospital, and there’s the feeling that for a county already struggling to find its footing in recent years, the closure of the 100-year-old hospital could be catastrophic.
“I’m going to be very honest; I am very concerned about our hospital,” Buckhannon mayor Robbie Skinner said in his recent State of the City address. “St. Joseph’s Hospital as we know it today may cease to exist.”
Behind those concerns is an out-of-state, lobbyist-led effort to dramatically revamp the healthcare system in West Virginia.
“Currently, West Virginia has what is called a ‘Certificate of Need’ process that healthcare providers must follow when they wish to embark on facility or service-offering expansion,” Skinner explained. “This legislation acts as a checks-and-balance system and is fair to all hospitals regardless of size or location. This law has been in effect for decades in West Virginia, and it must remain. The Certificate of Need process is protecting rural hospitals like ours, but out-of-state lobbying groups, along with some outspoken in-state representatives, want this legislation abolished.”
And while those lobbyists could care less about Upshur County, the impact here would be severe. St. Joseph’s Hospital is a critical access hospital, a federal designation that means it gets reimbursed more for the services it provides to Medicaid and Medicare patients.
That extra amount equates to about $14 million per year.
“At the present time, our hospital is doing great,” Skinner said. “Skip Gjolberg is a fantastic CEO, and his team is dedicated to the well-being of not only the hospital itself, but most importantly, to the total health of everyone it serves.”
However, if the state legislature removes the Certificate of Need process and another hospital is built within 15 miles, that critical access money would vanish. A vital federal lifeline for rural hospitals like ours would be severed instantly.
In a show of unity, Gjolberg and David Goldberg, the president of Mon Health, appeared before the West Virginia legislature on Tuesday. Together, the duo advocated for the importance of the Certificate of Need throughout the Mountain State.
I applaud Robbie and Skip for having the courage to stand up and fight for Upshur County. The hospital on the hill has served Buckhannon with compassionate care for more than 100 years. I hope this isn’t the last.
“The intention of this message is not to scare anyone, but it is intended to provide information and a call to action,” Skinner said. “Write letters, make phone calls, and if able, travel to the state Capitol to meet with our representatives face-to-face. Not only is St. Joseph’s Hospital the largest private employer in Upshur County, but it also provides critical access to healthcare in our region. We cannot afford to lose our now more than 100-year-old hospital.”
Please contact your state senators (click here for contact info) and delegates (click here for contact info) and tell them you support keeping the Certificate of Need. Some useful contacts:
Sen. Bill Hamilton
bill.hamilton@wvsenate.gov
(304) 357-7906
Sen. Robbie Morris
robbie.morris@wvsenate.gov
(304) 357-7973
Sen. Patrick Martin
patrick.martin@wvsenate.gov
(304) 357-7845
Rep. Carl ‘Robbie’ Martin (on record in support of Certificate of Need)
carl.martin@wvhouse.gov
(304) 340-3167
Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s Office
(304) 558-2000
