| A number of WV hospitals have closed, others taking out bankruptcy.
A second Wheeling hospital is on the brink of bankruptcy, after the Ohio Valley Medical Center closed with 1000 jobs gone.
By Jake Flatley
Wheeling Hospital is reducing its workforce as a result of the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.
The hospital, which WVU Medicine took over managing in June 2019, announced on Tuesday that it will begin the reductions with a Voluntary Reduction Plan.
Hospital CEO Doug Harrison told MetroNews the COVID-19 pandemic has had a $35 million impact on the hospital. To date, the hospital has received just over $22 million in CARES Act funding but has lost over $18 million in the current fiscal year. Harrison added the hospital lost $11 million in 2019.
âThe hospital is continuing to be severely financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and we just didnât see any relief in sight. This is going to be around for a while,â he told MetroNews.
âPrior to COVID we were losing money, but not to the extent once COVID hit.â
He said there was no other choice for the hospital, other than to file bankruptcy, but to cut the bulk of overhead expense which is personnel. Harrison told MetroNews that between attrition numbers, employees already lost as of March and through the voluntary reduction, the Ohio County hospital is looking to cut $10 million out of the run rates.
Harrison hopes to avoid cuts to the clinical programs.
âThatâs what I am trying to avoid and look at the non-clinic piece of what we do. Obviously, we want to grow clinical-based services and strengthen the clinical-based programs,â he said.
According to a release from the hospital, the hospital is also preparing for a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice as it defends itself against a qui tam action case. Before Harrisonâs arrival as CEO, the Department of Justice accused Wheeling Hospital of violating Stark Law, and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Harrison said there is no timetable on when the lawsuit would be settled.
Another factor in the loss of money according to Harrison is a âbroken Medicaid systemâ and being overstaffed in certain areas compared to national benchmarks.
âWith the closing of other hospitals in the region, we have seen an increase in Medicaid patients and no-pay patients and the Medicaid reimbursement doesnât cover a fraction of the cost of care. The Medicaid system, not only in this state but other states is broken,â Harrison said.
âFor 170 years, Wheeling Hospital has proudly served this region through discipline and prudent management of its resources,â he said in a release.
âBecause of COVID-19 and the impending DOJ settlement, we have been forced to make the painful decision to eliminate staffing resources. We are hopeful that by acting now, we are assuring that the hospital continues to maintain its viability and clinical excellence to meet the ongoing needs of the community in the future.â
The hospital is offering a severance plan for anyone interested in participating in a Voluntary Reduction Plan. | 
