CEO urges to keep California hospital open

Gary Herbst, CEO of cash-strapped Kaweah Health, has reached out to county leaders for help keeping a hospital in Visalia, California afloat. Sunshine in the San Joaquin Valley reported March 5.

According to the report, Mr. Herbst said he is open to various forms of assistance. Ideas include a sales tax, a land tax, and funding for the American Plan of Salvation Act. He also sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom requesting an extension of the seismic compliance deadline to 2030, which is expected to cost the hospital $730 million.

The hospital had 140 days of cash before the pandemic, according to the report. By the end of January, he had 73 days of cash on hand. Mr. Herbst told the Tulare County Board of Supervisors that their numbers will continue to decline unless changes are made.

According to the report, Kaweah posted an operating loss of $136 million from March 2022 to December 2022, primarily due to non-reimbursement from Medi-Cal and Medicare, rising labor costs, and rising spending on pharmaceutical and medical supplies. .

More than 130 employees have been laid off, with up to 100 more likely to be laid off this month, according to the report. He also closed the Skilled Nursing Unit, the Outpatient Neurosurgical Clinic, and the Diabetes Education Clinic. It also limited elective surgeries for Medi-Cal patients.

Mr. Herbst said the layoffs and closures are part of the financial recovery plan, but there is no guarantee that Kaweah will remain open unaided.

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