Press release
Warsaw, New York, July 11, 2023, Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) announced today that it plans to convert the hospital to a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) later in 2023. According to David Kobis, Chief Executive Officer, the conversion to Critical Access designation is projected to result in approximately two to three million dollars more in revenue each year. Rural hospitals like WCCHS have faced financial and operating challenges for many years, and these challenges are expected to continue for the foreseeable future both in New York and across the country. Kobis stated, “These are extraordinary and unprecedented times in healthcare. Rural hospitals need to pursue every advantage and opportunity possible to secure local access to health care and ensure financial sustainability today and for generations to come. We believe Critical Access Hospital status will help WCCHS stabilize our finances and provide a pathway to long term viability in Wyoming County.”
Critical Access designation is given to rural hospitals that meet certain geographic and operating criteria. Hospitals must apply for the designation, be surveyed by the New York State Department of Health or Joint Commission, and be approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Once the designation is attained, hospitals then receive higher payments for Medicare and Medicaid patients, which comprise more than 60% of the patients at WCCHS.
The goal of the Critical Access program is to help keep rural hospitals on solid financial footing so that health care can remain local. Contrary to some misperceptions, converting to Critical Access does NOT mean closing programs or services. Rather, achieving this designation can assist hospitals to add and expand services in rural areas.
WCCHS leaders expect the conversion to take 6 to 9 months to complete.
What is a Critical Access Hospital?
Critical Access is a designation given to eligible rural hospitals by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CAH designation was created in 1997 and is intended to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals through higher reimbursement for services to Medicare and Medicaid patients, and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. There are currently more than 1,300 CAHs across the country, including 18 in New York State.
Hospitals must meet the following conditions to obtain CAH designation:
· Have 25 or fewer acute care inpatient beds (behavioral health and observation beds are not included in this total)
· Be located more than 35 miles from another hospital (15 miles on designated secondary roads)
· Maintain an annual average length of stay of 96 hours or less for acute care patients
· Provide 24/7 emergency care services
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Does this mean WCCHS will close most of its beds?
No, WCCHS will not have to close most of its beds. The hospital is currently licensed for 62 beds, 12 of these are licensed for behavioral health patients. The behavioral health beds are not included in the 25 inpatient bed limit for Critical Access Hospitals. Further, WCCHS suspended its 5 bed obstetrical program in June 2023 – these beds are no longer utilized. Of the remaining 45 beds at WCCHS, only 10 of these will need to close, 25 beds will be utilized for inpatients and up to 10 will be utilized for observation patients.
Will WCCHS have enough beds to take care of Wyoming County residents?
Yes. Careful analysis of patient census over the last 10 years indicates that the hospital does not need more than 25 inpatient beds and 10 observation beds. Because of advances in technology and medicine over the last 30 years patients are not admitted to hospitals as frequently, and when admitted do not stay as long. Nearly all hospitals in the US are reducing bed capacities due to under use.
Will Critical Access cause programs and services to be eliminated?
No. Current programs and services at WCCHS will continue as is.
About Wyoming County Community Health System
Wyoming County Community Health System (WCCHS) has served Wyoming County and the surrounding areas for more than 110 years and continues its commitment of providing outstanding healthcare services for our rural community. WCCHS is a full service health system based in Warsaw, NY comprised of a 62 bed acute-care hospital, a 138 bed Skilled Nursing Facility, and more than 10 primary and specialty care physician clinics. The hospital provides 24-hour emergency care as well as a range of services, including family and internal medicine, orthopedics and general surgery, gastroenterology, podiatry, cardiology, inpatient mental health, neurology, endocrinology, dialysis, and a variety of other specialty services. WCCHS has outpatient clinics in Arcade, Attica, Mt. Morris, Perry, and Warsaw, NY.