NewsTribune

Non-sale of St. Mary’s win for community

We’re glad to see St. Mary’s Hospital, which has operated in Jefferson City for more than a century, will continue to operate under the same ownership.

It ended three years of uncertainty and speculation when it announced this past week it no longer is considering selling the hospital. SSM had been in discussions to sell St. Mary’s to Quorum Health, the second suitor for the Capital City institution in three years.

We don’t know why the talks ended. We presume SSM made a decision in its best interest. We believe it is also in the best interest of the community.

SSM Health and MU Health Care announced in August 2018 they were in exclusive negotiations on the sale of the hospital. We expressed concern along with others at the time. Capital Region Medical Center already has a relationship with MU Health Care. If St. Mary’s was sold to MU Health Care, it would create a local health care monopoly.

Jefferson City has a large Catholic population, and some had also expressed concern St. Mary’s would lose its Catholic affiliation.

“It remains our goal to ensure a sustainable and thriving healthcare ministry for the people of Jefferson City,” SSM Health COO Steve Smoot wrote in a letter to board members Monday. “To that end, we plan to further expand services and invest in the care we provide at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Group.”

Bishop W. Shawn McKnight, of the Diocese of Jefferson City, said in a statement that SSM Health’s commitment to invest in the local hospital “is very good news for all of us.”

St. Mary’s is keeping its investment here, he said, and the community should reciprocate.

Rural hospitals have struggled to survive, and many haven’t. A variety of factors contribute to the problem. Rural areas often have populations that are older and poorer than the overall population. Some have blamed low reimbursement rates for Medicare.

The Missouri Foundation for Health reports all of the states with the highest number of closures and the most vulnerable and at-risk hospitals are states that have not expanded their Medicaid programs. Last year, Missouri became the 38th state to expand Medicaid to lowincome residents under Obamacare.

That should give a boost to the profitability of St. Mary’s and other Missouri hospitals.

Even before voters expanded Medicaid, St. Mary’s seemed to be turning the corner financially. Data shows the hospital lost $20.9 million in 2016, but has improved each year, cutting it’s losses to $3.9 million in 2019, the most recent year data was available.

We hope it continues to be financially viable under SSM Health so that can continue its mission here in Jefferson City. The mission, just 13 words, says a lot: “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God.”

OPINION

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2021-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://edition.newstribune.com/article/281745567578619

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