IMH’s board of trustees voted to look into shifting the 99-bed hospital’s operating structure from a district hospital to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operation. The decision to pursue nonprofit status resulted from a 2015 assessment conducted by the American Hospital Association, working sessions and consulting advisors.
“There are many challenges ahead for rural hospitals, in particular, the move away from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursements, as well as expected funding cuts from Medicaid and Medicare,” Guy Warpness, IMH board president, said in a statement. “To be able to weather the future changes in healthcare, Ivinson will need to be more nimble in order to respond to the new market realities while continuing to improve the quality of care IMH provides.”
IMH board members have created a governance committee, which includes community members, to examine the transition process. The hospital said its board will further evaluate the structure, seek approval from county commissioners and hold employee forums, local physicians meetings and community feedback sessions over the next few months.
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