Neronha’s Intense Efforts on RI Healthcare & Hospital Plan
TL/DR –
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is calling for a proactive and comprehensive healthcare policy strategy as the state faces a crisis in its hospital sector. Neronha has spent several years reviewing major hospital transactions and has rejected the merger between Lifespan and Care New England, with $80 million placed in escrow as the for-profit firm’s investors look to sell their Rhode Island assets. His office is currently working on a multi-part healthcare policy recommendation package to present to General Assembly leaders, which will include considerations for hospital reorganization, state agency reforms, and reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid.
Rhode Island Attorney General Advocates for Comprehensive Healthcare Policy Strategy
Rhode Island Attorney General, Peter Neronha, recognises the state’s health care challenges and urges a comprehensive and proactive strategy to prevent healthcare from becoming more expensive and less convenient for residents. Neronha and his team are working on this new strategy to be presented to the General Assembly in the next year.
“Health care is complicated. And it’s hard,” Neronha stated. “And I think that’s why in some quarters there is a lack of enthusiasm to take it on, but it has to be taken on.”
After several years of examining the state’s major hospital transactions, Neronha’s office has played a significant regulatory role involving hospitals such as Lifespan, Care New England, and Prospect CharterCARE. Efforts include rejecting Lifespan’s proposed merger with Care New England and requiring Prospect to place $80 million in escrow as the firm’s investors plan to divest their Rhode Island assets.
These aggressive moves have gained Neronha a substantial share of the Rhode Island political spotlight, where he’s also pushing for a more aggressive approach to climate change.
Addressing the Health Care Crisis
With Rhode Island hospitals’ financial conditions worsening, Neronha describes the state as in a “place of crisis or near-crisis.” He believes that fixing healthcare should be a priority to ensure struggling health institutions, like the CharterCARE hospitals, meet their bottom line.
The Atlanta-based nonprofit Centurion Foundation has reportedly agreed to buy the Rhode Island hospitals, a deal that would require approval from both Neronha and the state Department of Health. Neronha, however, insists that he will not agree to the sale unless the $40 million currently held in escrow is accounted for.
To save struggling Rhode Island healthcare institutions, Neronha believes the solution lies in an overhaul of the current system to address hospitals serving large numbers of Medicaid patients and receiving lower reimbursement rates.
Looking to the Future with a Comprehensive Plan
The Attorney General’s office is developing a comprehensive health care policy recommendation package, which includes plans to reorganize state agencies, question the number of hospitals, and address the primary care doctor shortage in the state. Neronha plans to present this multi-part plan to state leaders for consideration.
Neronha also suggests that affiliations with out-of-state groups could strengthen Rhode Island hospitals. He believes that the state needs to be open-minded in its approach and focus on strategic thinking to address the healthcare crisis.
While his political future remains uncertain, Neronha expresses his commitment to public service and his role as Attorney General. “I love public service. I hate politics. Politics was a means to get here to hopefully do some good,” Neronha concluded.
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