Exeter (N.H.) Hospital is delaying cuts to its pediatric dental services after pressure from state regulators, New Hampshire Public Radio reported Sept. 25.
Eight notes:
1. Exeter Hospital had planned to close its neurology, podiatry and pediatric dentistry services Oct. 11.
2. The decision to cut these services came after the hospital previously announced it would end its advanced life support paramedic intercept service, citing financial reasons such as rising costs and a "challenging reimbursement environment."
3. A spokesperson for the hospital said the cuts are meant to ensure the hospital's "future stability."
4. Janet Stevens, a member of New Hampshire’s Executive Council, had urged the state's attorney general, the state Consumer Protection Bureau and the Charitable Trust Unit to take immediate action to prevent the closures.
5. Backlash from patients and New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella led the hospital to agree to postpone the cuts for six months while the attorney general's office investigates whether Exeter Hospital's decisions violated a prior agreement between the office and Cambridge, Mass.-based Beth Israel Lahey.
6. Formella's office approved Beth Israel's acquisition of Exeter Hospital last year on conditions that the health system would expand services and make investments totaling $375 million.
7. Exeter Hospital agreed to cooperate with the state’s review and create transition plans for each service it plans to cut.
8. Mr. Formella said the hospital can only terminate a service during the six-month window if that service can be transitioned to another provider without negatively impacting patients.