The fate of the state-run Jackie Withrow Hospital in Beckley and three other long-term care facilities in West Virginia, is still unknown.
West Virginia Division of Health and Human Services Secretary Bill Crouch spoke before the Interim Joint Committee on Government and Finance at the State Capitol on Sept. 14, where he noted that Jackie Withrow Hospital, Hopemont Hospital in Preston County, John Manchin Sr. Healthcare Center in Marion County and Lakin Hospital in Mason County, are still facing closure, but he did provide different options, including privatization, to keep them open.
The primary concerns at each facility include the age of buildings, maintenance costs and continuing staff shortages, Crouch explained.
During the 2021 session of the West Virginia State Legislature, House Bill 2626 made it to the House Finance Committee—where it stalled. This bill recommended the closure of these facilities, including Jackie Withrow Hospital, which was established in 1927.
After the bill was introduced, Crouch said that he made the decision to no longer admit patients to the facilities due to their anticipated closure. When the bill stalled, he said he decided to maintain that patient hold due to staffing issues. Now, a decision needs to be made.
According to Crouch, one option the state could pursue is to sell licensed beds to a skilled nursing provider in the private sector, while maintaining state ownership of each structure and real property. Other options on the table include acquisition/merger with a healthcare network, university or medical school or facility replacement.
“I really believe we are looking at a solution here for better conditions for these patients,” Crouch said. He added that while staff at these facilities do a great job at providing care, the right thing to do is provide patients with modern accommodations.
Del. Eric Householder (R-Berkeley, 64) stated that he has been hearing this type of “lip service” for about seven years.
“When are we going to do something about it?” Householder asked. “You obviously have the ability to shut down these facilities at your discretion. Why haven’t we done it?”
Crouch responded that it is hard to get communities to sign off on doing that, but that he thought the state legislature would, in fact, pass the bill to close the facilities.
Del. Amy Summers (R-Taylor, 49) said that since neither those in the West Virginia State Legislature nor those at the DHHR “have the will” to make a decision on the facilities, the state should find a way to build new facilities.
“We have got to come up with how much money you need for us to have new buildings because the places are not acceptable,” Summers said. “So, if we are not going to be moving forward, we have the funding that’s gonna be available. We are going to have to build new places. So, instead of beating the same drum—we have been beating it for seven years, I am getting tired of it—we might as well come up with a new plan.”
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