Vernon mayor Dan Champagne was holding nothing back Tuesday in questioning the "transparency"of a proposed takeover of the local hospital.
VERNON, CT — It's been 390 days since a deal to acquire Rockville General Hospital was endorsed by Yale New Haven Health and Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. and on Tuesday a rather animated Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne repeatedly begged one certain question.
"What' the holdup?"
Prospect is the parent company of Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which runs RGH.
Patch reached out to Yale New Haven Health about the status of its purchase and Director of Public Relations and Communications said Dana Marnane said a signed confidentiality agreement with the state Office of Health Strategy prohibits comment on the regulatory proceedings, "in order to continue productive conversations."
ECHN spokeswoman Nina Kruse could not be reached for immediate comment, nor could the state OHS.
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Champagne Tuesday morning was questioning transparency of the process in an interview with Patch.
"This is a public health issue that affects the entire region," he said. "This is not just the hospital. It's offices all over the region that handle areas like family practice, x-rays, mental health and a lot more."
When asked what he knows about the talks, Champagne said, "It's at the state level now."
The entities announced on Oct. 6 of last year that they had signed documents for Yale to officially acquire two Connecticut health systems from Prospect, including Rockville Hospital parent EHHN. The agreement includes not just the hospital. but the health system's related businesses, real estate assets, physician clinic operations and outpatient services. Manchester Memorial Hospital is also part of the deal, since it, too, is run by ECHN
The purchase price was not disclosed and the deal was subject to customary regulatory approvals. That's when the OHS came into play.
Champagne said his thoughts at the time were, "Prospect is a for-profit hospital company controlled by private equity. Finally, our critically important local hospital would be in the hands of a world-class health care system rather than the private equity vultures who have gutted Rockville General Hospital."
On Tuesday, his tone was different.
"That excitement has turned to grave concern as Yale New Haven Health's purchase of Prospect Medical Holdings hospitals in Connecticut has been delayed due to an unusually lengthy regulatory review process. I understand the need for the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy to carry out its regulatory responsibilities by reviewing the sale agreement and issuing a certificate of need, but I am extremely disappointed that, after more than a year after the purchase agreement was announced, we are still waiting for a decision.”
Champagne said the "delay" is "placing at risk thousands of jobs and the loss of essential medical care and infrastructure in our communities."
He added, "The people in the communities served by ECNH have an enormous stake in this process. We need movement on the certificate of need now."
Champagne said he, legislators at the state level and "other local leaders" have sought a meeting with Gov. Ned Lamont about the issue.
"I know the governor cares deeply about access to health care for all Connecticut residents," Champagne said. "I hope he will meet with us to hear our concerns and pleas for action."
Champagne also had harsh words for Prospect.
"Prospect Medical Holdings was once viewed as the savior of our hospital system. It has not delivered and over time has weakened ECHN further by cutting services and extracting cash," he said. "Our once-vibrant and essential community hospital is but a shell of itself. We need our hospital to once again be in the hands of professionals who are focused on delivering quality patient care."
Champagne said the regulatory process has been mired in "a lack of transparency and honesty with the communities Rockville General serves." He said a recent cyberattack that crippled ECHN was "not the cause of the problems we are seeing now, including an inability to pay vendors."
He added, "The cyberattack simply ripped the bandage off and exposed an institution that is damaged and has lost its way as a result of what we view as mismanagement by Prospect Medical Holdings. We need prompt approval of the sale of ECHN to Yale New Haven Health. At risk are thousands of jobs and the health and welfare of our communities."
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