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December 17, 2020
West Burlington, Ia- Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital will apply to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for Sole Community Hospital (SCH) classification in 2021.
The SCH program was created to maintain access to needed health services for Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities by providing greater reimbursement.
Great River Health President and CEO Matt Wenzel said the goal was to make the change on July 1st.
“This rapid timeline is in response to the pandemic’s financial impact on the hospitals, and it will help ensure long-term financial sustainability for health care in southeast Iowa,” Wenzel said.
The Hawk Eye
WEST BURLINGTON – Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital will combine into one hospital with one name to reach a new federal classification, hospital officials announced Wednesday.
They will be known as Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, if an application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for Sole Community Hospital Classification is approved in 2021.
The SCH program was created to maintain access to needed health services for Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities by providing greater reimbursement.
Hospitals must meet specific criteria for SCH classification, including distance from other hospitals.
To meet the proximity requirement, GRMC and FMCH will become one hospital with two campuses. The newly named hospital will operate under parent corporation Great River Health. A reduction in employees is not anticipated, according to a release from Great River Health.