HMHP CEO weighs in on Forum sale and impact on charity care

YOUNGSTOWN — Humility of Mary Health Partners is prepared for a potential increased charity care load with the sale of Forum Health to for-profit Youngstown Ohio Hospital Co., a subsidiary of Community Health Systems.

“It worries me,” admitted Robert Shroder, HMHP president and chief executive officer, but he said HMHP has a contingency plan should more charity-care responsibilities come its way.

“These plans are not pretty, but the needs of the community will be met,” he said.

Shroder, who worked for the for-profit health-care system Quorum Health Resources, now a subsidiary of CHS, before coming to HMHP, said he knows both sides of the for-profit/nonprofit coin.

For-profits do charity care. When someone shows up at their emergency department, they receive treatment.

The difference between for-profits and nonprofits is that for-profits don’t go out and look for charity care, whereas HMHP’s mission actually includes improving the health of the community, specifically by seeking out and providing care for the poor and under served, the chief executive said.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com