Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has filed a response supporting the objections of four parties seeking more time to facilitate the purchase and avoid the closure of Trumbull Regional Medical Center and two Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital service locations.
“Hospitals are lifelines for our communities, and the threat of closure due to financial strain means gambling with people’s lives,” AG Yost stated. “The health and well-being of Ohioans should never be sacrificed for the bottom line.”
The response, filed in relation to Steward Health Care System LLC's debtors in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, asserts that as Ohio's chief law enforcement officer, Yost has standing to advocate for the general health and well-being, both physical and economic, of Ohio residents.
On August 21, Steward and related debtors issued a 30-day notice of closure for the Trumbull County facilities under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
A week later, Warren City Hospital, Western Reserve Health Education Inc., the City of Warren, and Trumbull County filed a motion requesting additional time to facilitate a bid and extend the closure notice to November 20, 2024.
Yost’s brief outlines how closing Trumbull Regional would adversely affect healthcare needs in northeastern Ohio. It notes that local hospitals may lack sufficient staff or equipment to manage an influx of emergency cases.
Additionally, it highlights that delayed medical response times combined with overstretched surrounding facilities could lead to severe consequences for patients needing medical care—issues potentially avoidable if more time is granted as requested.
An emergency hearing has been scheduled for September 3.
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Kelly May: 614-813-7419