United States Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) sent a letter to CMS this week, asking the agency to delay terminating Medicare payments for Ozarks Community Hospital in Springfield, Mo., according to a report on OzarksFirst.com.
The letter, dated July 15, comes the same week the hospital announced plans to close its surgery and emergency departments July 29, affecting 200 employees.
OCH blamed the layoffs on the fact that CMS is terminating OCH's Medicare provider agreement status, effective Aug. 1, because OCH does not satisfy the federal definition of a hospital. Hospital CEO Paul Taylor said CMS terminating OCH's Medicare provider agreement status is focused around OCH's decision to provide primary care for at risk patients, according to the report. OCH has indicated it intends to appeal CMS' decision.
But Sen. McCaskill in her letter asks that CMS allow OCH to maintain its current Medicare provider agreement status until a final determination is reached.
"This will allow the community of Springfield to continue to receive the care it needs while CMS reviews OCH's case," she added.
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