An attempt is being made to sell three financially solvent Catholic hospitals in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the motive is Obamacare, according to their owner.
On the block are Mercy Hospital in Scranton, Mercy Tyler Hospital in Tunkhannock and Mercy Special Care Hospital in Nanticoke, which are owned by Mercy Health Partners of Scranton.
Mercy Health CEO Kevin Cook told WNEP-TV that while the hospitals were “actually . . doing well” they expect that over the next five years “a different level of investment” would be needed that what they could do on their own.
He spelled it out by saying that the required investment is the result of the federal health care reform bill passed last March. He said there will be the need for more spending and less federal reimbursements.
He said the legislation was “absolutely” a factor in their planning.
Mercy Hospital in Scranton was opened in 1917 by the Sisters of Mercy.
A sale is expected by the end of the year.
With the excellent work that the
sisters of Mercy have done over the
years in their many hospitals, it is a
crime to have them shut their doors.
What does OBAMA think he is accomplishing by pushing through a
program that will cause these hospitals
and many others to fold their books and
leave for ever?