State lawmakers introduce legislation to prevent Quorum Health from closing Ohio hospital

Two state legislators introduced bipartisan legislation in the Ohio House of Representatives Jan. 11 to prevent Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health, the 38-hospital spinoff of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems, from closing Massillon, Ohio-based Affinity Medical Center.

State Reps. Thomas E. West, D-Canton, and Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, crafted House Bill 462 to prevent Quorum Health from permanently closing the hospital, which officials expect to occur Feb. 4.

Under the bill, all for-profit hospitals in Stark County must fulfill certain closure conditions before shuttering a facility. The conditions include the hospital's owner providing proof of the hospital's financial hardship; making three attempts to sell the facility; and creating a plan to transfer all hospital patients and employees to another facility within 15 miles.

The bill also requires a minimum nine-month transition period between public announcement of the hospital's closure and final closure.

"Creating a set of conditions that must be met for closure will force a real conversation about whether everything possible has been done to save Affinity," said Mr. West. "The passion our community feels about this is clear in the outcry that the closure announcement caused. Since then, we have seen a whirlwind of rallies, meetings and action from leaders throughout Stark County to save the hospital, and I believe that this movement will only grow stronger."

The bill comes one day after two U.S. Senators from Ohio wrote a letter to leaders of Quorum Health and Affinity Medical Center to abstain from closing the hospital.

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