Wolf, Kenney call on federal government to help address Hahnemann care gaps

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney called on the White House and Congress to match all state and local funding to address potential gaps in service related to the bankruptcy of the corporate owners of Hahnemann and St. Christopher’s hospitals.

Wolf and Kenney also requested that the federal government cover the debts accumulated by both governments to help ensure Hahnemann patients and workers are protected.

Wolf and Kenney said that their administrations are prepared to spend up to $15 million to address the potential gaps in service and continuity of care concerns.

The company’s debts to the state and city together make up approximately $40 million of its $300 million operating deficit. The governments had been working with the American Academic Health System to ease the resolution of these debts before its owners declared bankruptcy.

“We need the federal government to step up and join us in protecting these patients and workers,” Wolf and Kenney said in a joint statement. “The White House and Congress must be equally invested in protecting patient care in Philadelphia and they should match any state and local funds committed to that goal. We will work with our partners in the Senate and House to fight for federal support.”

The state and city have been working with the on-site management team to ensure that the hospital’s pending closure is safe and orderly. Any new funding from the state and city would be used to cover any new plan that might emerge at that site to cover gaps in service and continuity in care.

“Our administrations continue to work aggressively with our partners in government and Pennsylvania’s medical community to seek a long-term solution to provide health care to those who need it,” Wolf and Kenney said. “We are fighting alongside the on-site management team, the workers, the patients, and the community to protect patient care and find a viable solution to this crisis created by the current owner.”