The number of uninsured patients is increasing; reimbursements to hospitals from Medicare, Medicaid

The number of uninsured patients is increasing; reimbursements to hospitals from Medicare, Medicaid and Workers' Compensation have been decreasing.
Only four companies in the Valley have more than 2,000 full-time equivalent employees -- Humility of Mary Health Partners, Delphi Packard Electric, Lordstown General Motors, and Forum Health, and the last three have financial problems.
HMHP does not believe a for-profit hospital is needed in the Mahoning Valley.
HMHP officials have talked with Forum Health about acquiring some of Forum's assets but could be among a number of institutions considering that.
HMHP has budgeted for a $4 million profit in 2006, considerably less than in the past.HMHP talks to other health care providers all the time but no new partnerships are imminent.