St. Margaret’s Health wants new designation to keep hospitals from closing

Economic concerns from the pandemic in the healthcare industry have caused some hospitals to close. St. Margaret’s Health is trying to prevent that from happening by trying to turn one of their local hospitals into a Rural Emergency Hospital. The federal government created the designation to address problems with rural hospitals closing. CEO Tim Muntz says the REH designation would allow the hospital to combine different services while continuing to have both hospitals provide emergency services. It also allows for significantly higher payment rates from Medicare. He says because of the opportunity the healthcare system has put on hold an application to discontinue emergency and inpatient services at St. Margaret’s Health Spring Valley . The healthcare system is also working with St. Sen. Sue Rezin and St. Rep. Lance Yednock to give one of the hospitals the REH designation. If one of the hospitals becomes the Rural Emergency Hospital Muntz says the other will stay a full-service hospital.