Oswego Community Hospital

Oswego Community Hospital (OCH) was a federally and state-designated 12 bed critical access hospital located in Oswego, Kansas,[1] and one of several hospitals that fell victim to an alleged fraudulent billing scheme that the U.S. Department of Justice says was executed by EmpowerHMS, the hospital's former operator.[2][3][4]

Oswego Community Hospital
HMC/CAH
Geography
LocationOswego, Kansas, United States
Coordinates37°09′33″N 95°06′40″W
Organization
Care systemPrivate
TypeCritical access
Services
Emergency department24 hr. ER, ExpressCare
Beds12
Links
Websitehttp://oswegocommunityhospital.com
ListsHospitals in Kansas

History

In 2007 Oswego Medical Center was purchased by HMC/CAH Consolidated, Inc. and the name changed to Oswego Community Hospital. The facility had in recent years been previously sponsored by and affiliated with Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center of Pittsburg, Kansas with help from St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri.

At some point in the past decade, EmpowerHMS purchased Oswego Community Hospital. During this time, a sponsorship agreement was signed with Labette County-owned, privately funded Labette Health of Parsons, Kansas, in December 2010, bringing the only two hospitals in Labette County together with a cooperative agreement.[5] OCH provided a wide variety of services, including General Medical care, Senior Mental Health programs, a 24-hour Emergency Department, ExpressCare, multiple daytime walk-in clinics, a wound care program, various radiology, sexual assault and abuse help, laboratory, observation, physical therapy, dietary services, respiratory care, Swing Bed, a pharmacy, pastoral care, and out-patient services. A portable CT Scanner and MRI truck were also available on-call, and OCH had contracted with EagleMed to provide emergency air transport to more qualified hospitals.

On February 13, 2019, Oswego Community Hospital abruptly closed its doors, "citing [a] failure to expand Medicaid" and "low patient volumes."[6][7] However, later in 2019, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced his office had executed a search warrant as part of a broader investigation of the hospital's operator, EmpowerHMS.[8] In June 2020, federal indictments were unsealed, revealing that several persons associated with EmpowerHMS were indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for their alleged role in a $1.4 billion fraudulent billing scheme.[9]

In April 2020, the hospital's assets, including the former hospital site, a former clinic location, and other real estate, were purchased out of bankruptcy by Oswego NeuroPsych Hospital, Inc.[10]

Current Services

The hospital is not currently operational. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Oswego NeuroPsych Hospital, Inc., lent personal protective equipment, including portable ventilators and other equipment, to the Kansas Department of Emergency Management.[11]

Future Operations

On April 15, 2020, local newspaper Labette Avenue reported that Oswego NeuroPsych Hospital, Inc., intended to reopen the former hospital in Oswego.[12]

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References
  1. Oswego Community Hospital - Critical Access Hospital
  2. Riley, Jonathan. "Oswego hospital closure effects linger". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  3. "Ten Defendants Charged in $1.4 Billion Rural Hospital Pass-Through Billing Scheme". U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  4. Riley, Jonathan. "Anatomy of a shut down: Billing fraud and the demise of Oswego Community Hospital". USA Today Network. Gatehouse Media. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  5. Two Hospitals Will Work Together
  6. Chilson, Morgan. "Oswego Community Hospital announces closure, citing failure to expand Medicaid, low patient volumes". Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  7. Frye, Sean. "Indiana Doctor Buys Oswego Hospital". Parsons Sun. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  8. Riley, Jonathan. "Kansas Attorney General confirms warrant served at Oswego hospital". Pittsburg Morning Sun. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  9. "Ten Defendants Charged in $1.4 Billion Rural Hospital Pass-Through Billing Scheme". U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  10. Frye, Sean. "Indiana Doctor Buys Oswego Hospital". Parsons Sun. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  11. Aubey, Jordan. "Local organizations and schools donate time, resources for Covid-19 prevention and treatment". KOAM News Now.
  12. "Former Oswego hospital will reopen by Indiana company". Labette Avenue. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
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