Skip to Content

Wyden presses federal regulators to fix error that has cost St. Charles Health System $6 million

KTVZ file

(Update: St. Charles issues statement)

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged federal health regulators Friday to fix their mistake that he said has unfairly cost St. Charles Health System $6 million over a nearly three-year period.

In his letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Wyden noted the agency’s error dates back to 2022, when St. Charles Health System responded to financial stresses from the COVID-19 pandemic by merging the Medicare certification for its hospitals in Bend and Redmond.

St. Charles Public Information Officer Alandra Johnson told KTVZ on Friday that the hospitals did not truly merge and that the change more involved Medicare paperwork and processes.

"We combined the hospitals under one Medicare provider number," Johnson said.

The merged hospital entity sought status as a sole community hospital, which provides higher Medicare reimbursement to support hospitals that are the only short-term acute care hospital serving a community.

Yet when St. Charles’ application for that updated status with the higher Medicare reimbursements was ultimately approved, it did not go back far enough to the correct date, Wyden said in a letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.

“Taken together, I believe a merely technical matter tied up in bureaucratic red tape has placed SCHS in administrative limbo for nearly three years and has cost them $6 million,” Wyden wrote. “My ultimate priority is making sure SCHS receives the money it needs to serve Oregonians living in rural communities.”   

Johnson also provided this statement about the situation and the senator's involvement:

"We welcome Sen. Wyden’s efforts in this area to help cut through government red tape to offer support for rural health care. This is a bureaucratic matter about the effective date of the revised designation.

"The designation recognizes the importance of community hospitals like St. Charles that provide essential services in geographically isolated areas. The federal government agreed years ago that St. Charles qualifies for the designation and the additional financial assistance. 

"The sole community hospital designation for St. Charles locations in Bend and Redmond did not change any services provided in those locations. Rather, it rightly demonstrated that the two locations are linked and operate under the St. Charles umbrella."

Wyden's letter is here.

Article Topic Follows: Bend

Jump to comments ↓

Author Profile Photo

Barney Lerten

Barney is the digital content director for NewsChannel 21. Learn more about Barney here.

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content