Local news

Over 200 attend special meeting regarding fate of Bucktail Medical Center

RENOVO -- Despite Bucktail Medical Center CEO Tim Reeves, Dr. Edwards, and the BMC Board of Directors' best efforts to catch the public up on the perils facing the rural hospital, it appeared that there are no easy answers when it comes to keeping the doors open in South Renovo.

Perhaps it was the presence of Senator Cris Dush and other politicians in the crowd of over 200 people, but negativity was kept in check as everyone in the building seemed to have the realization that western Clinton County and its rural location needs the BMC to continue saving lives well into the future.

Lisa Davis, Director of PA Office of Rural Health, set the tone of the meeting. Davis explained that keeping rural hospitals open around the country has proved challenging and not always possible over the last ten years.

Davis called the BMC the "poster child" of rural hospitals considering its location and low volume foot traffic, noting it's the only hospital in Clinton County with hospital beds.

Davis spoke about what proved to be a repeated theme throughout the evening -- payments received simply do not sustain a hospital without all its services being used on a regular basis. Numerous times it was mentioned that Medicaid only reimburse approximately 50 cents on the dollar in Pennsylvania.

UPMC's recently made the changes in Lock Haven was mentioned. In April, the hospital transitioned into an emergency medical center, with in-patient care being primarily handled at UPMC Williamsport.

This change kept the seriousness of the BMC's plight weighing heavily on all in the room.

CEO Tim Reeves publicly explained what he said in a plea to state politicians about two weeks ago via email as to what has led the hospital to the brink of closing.

"Not getting a last employee retention credit payment, an insurance company that wants reimbursed $82,000 for services that the BMC provided and didn't pay for and Medicaid requesting $255,000 back from 2018/19 fiscal year all became a reality for a non-profit hospital that already has a shoestring budget," said Reeves of the current financial status, adding they simply cannot handle all three issues at once.

"Your community, your hospital, your choice," Reeves introduced as his mantra, pleading with area residents to use the services offered at Bucktail.

Reeves said BMC can still be sustainable, but the services being offered need to be utilized more than they currently are, offering specifics.

The clinic now has two Physician Assistants on staff. Reeves stated that the clinic averaged 61 patients when they had just one provider, noting they now need 143 a month to be viable.

Other monthly averages compared to what Reeves feels would at least offset costs and then even be financially beneficial included: Chronic Care currently averaging 22 monthly patients, 30 is the target; lab testing 179 increasing to 250; x-rays 18 increasing to 28; ER 21 visits increasing to 30.

With community pride and the realization that the political guests in the room are really the only ones with the capability of helping to save the BMC, on-topic questions and comments were all that was tolerated by the vocal majority. Still, those that signed up to speak did air their concerns.

One topic brought up several times by those in attendance was where the COVID-19 era monies BMC received went and how they were spent.

Bob Cozzi, of South Renovo, began his comments by noting he would not be standing in the room if it were not for the BMC. He said the medical center saved his life three times.

Still, he asked if it was true that the hospital received $4 million in such monies.

Reeves assured him that was not true.

In fact, Reeves explained how successful he felt the BMC kept COVID in check, noting that they suffered just one outbreak. The statement drew cheers from the crowd.

Michelle Whitney, a Clinton County resident, would later revisit the topic when she spoke. She stated BMC received $3.16 million in COVID-19 related funding.

Whitney questioned Reeve's pay increases, asking if the state of the medical center warrants such raises.

Cozzi also wanted to know why the leaders waited so long to "ring the bell" of the dire straits facing the hospital and why it took him months to receive his bills.

Reeves said that timely billing has been an issue and, although they have cut the time in half, he acknowledged it still takes too long and they are working on the matter constantly.

As far as waiting so long, Reeves again accepted blame, but explained that they are all used to running an extremely tight budget and it wasn't until the aforementioned issues happened at once for them to end up in the predicament that they are in.

Senator Dush spoke next, urging the community to continue to care for each other, including by paying their bills at BMC and using their services.

He assured the audience that local politicians such as Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson, State Representative Stephanie Borowicz and county commissioners such Angela Harding are all on the same team when finding any relief possible for the medical center.

Board member Tracy Bruno gave a passionate plea for everyone in the room not to walk out and forget what is going on. She encouraged them to get a hold of their legislators and ask for help. She reminded everyone to remember that 85 jobs are on the line of people that serve the community.

If the BMC closes, Bruno said she's quite fearful where that will leave western Clinton County schools and businesses.

The one question that was asked formally and informally but was never answered, was how long Bucktail Medical Center can currently remain open.

With so much of Renovo's future hanging in the balance, nearly 250 people left the firehall hoping that it's a question that won't ever need to be answered.