Prowers Medical Center issues statement regarding Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing asking rural hospitals to return provider fee reimbursements

EDITOR’S NOTE: Karen Bryant, CEO of Prowers Medical Center released the following statement as a response to news that Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is asking rural hospitals to return nearly $60 million due to a failed lawsuit against UCHealth.  In it, she reiterates that PMC is currently in a stable financial situation and wants to assure the community that day-to-day operations and patient care remain stable and uninterrupted while this issue is resolved.  Please also read the post titled “State of Colorado asks public hospitals to return nearly $60M in response to failed lawsuit against UCHealth” for background info on this matter.

We are aware of the recent notification from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) regarding repayment requests to rural hospitals across the state. At the same time, we are closely monitoring the narrow passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in the Senate, which may introduce additional financial and operational implications for rural healthcare providers.

In response, we are actively engaged with both state and national hospital associations to advocate for fair, sustainable policies that reflect the realities rural hospitals face.

It’s important to emphasize that our financial position remains stable, and there is no immediate impact to staffing and the care we provide or the services our patients rely on. We are committed to full transparency and will continue to keep our community, staff, and partners informed as more information becomes available.

We believe additional context and clarification are critical before conclusions can be drawn. Our mission remains unchanged: to deliver complete, compassionate care to the communities we serve.

Key Talking Points for Staff and Community Conversations

• Situation
  • We are aware of the Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing notification and are actively reviewing the details alongside our finance team and working with both state and national hospital associations.
  • We are closely monitoring the narrow passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in the Senate.
  • At this time, we want to assure our community that our day-to-day operations and patient care remain stable and uninterrupted.
• Process/Next Steps
  • We are committed to understanding the full scope of this situation. Like many rural hospitals, we rely on guidance from federal and state partners. The Colorado Hospital Association and hospitals themselves stand ready to work through this with HCPF and others.
  • We believe there is important context and clarification needed before any definitive conclusions can be made regarding the payback of hospital provider fee reimbursements.
  • This legal issue was identified by UCHealth and upheld in court; we believe it is HCPF’s responsibility to resolve it transparently. Any changes to payment models must follow formal processes with input from stakeholders, including the CHASE and Medical Services Boards, to protect hospitals and uphold the law.
  • The revised OBBBA goes back to the House for approval of the Senate’s changes, and a tentative vote is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2.
• No Immediate Changes
  • There are no immediate changes to our services, staffing, or patient care as a result of this news.
  • We remain focused on providing complete, compassionate care to our patients and supporting our team members.
• Support for Rural Healthcare
  • This is another instance to reflect on the vital role rural hospitals play and the ongoing challenges we face-from reimbursement models to policy shifts.
  • We continue to advocate for sustainable solutions that support rural healthcare, not penalize it.  While all rural hospitals share a passion for serving rural communities, each take a varied approach to achieve sustainability.
• Continued Communication:
  • We will share more information as it becomes available and will remain transparent with our community throughout this process.
  • Please visit our external facing website at prowersmedical.com as well as our organization’s Facebook page for ongoing updates and communications.

Respectfully,

Karen

Karen L. Bryant