News from our Neighbors

MASSENA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FACING $2 MILLION LOSS THIS YEAR, HIRES CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT POSSIBLE PRIVATIZATION

Reprinted from NorthCountryNow

MASSENA – Facing a nearly $2 million loss this year, the Massena Memorial Hospital Board of Managers unanimously voted to hire FreedMaxick Healthcare to look at the financial side of the hospital’s potential transition to a private non-profit.

Their work is contracted to cost up to $32,000.

Board member Gary Borgosz said he was concerned about potential additional monetary liabilities. He noted that the deal says MMH is financially responsible for any delays or additional unexpected costs.The hospital is looking at the conversion in light of rising costs and dwindling reimbursements.

According to a financial and statistical summary provided Monday night, the hospital is looking at a $1,923,772 net loss to date for 2013 – a 19.27 percent increase over the same time period last year.

MMH Chief Executive Officer Charles Fahd told the board if not for nearly $1 million in Medicaid and Medicare “meaningful-use” reimbursements, that figure would be “significantly higher.”

STATE POLICE DETAIL IN GOUVERNEUR COMES UNDER FIRE

Reprinted from NorthCountryNow

State Police deny there was any political motivation when they sent several state troopers to the village of Gouverneur last week for a late-night detail that randomly stopped close to 100 motorists on village streets where dozens of vehicle and traffic tickets were handed out.

“State troopers have been tasked to patrol on midnight shifts seven nights a week. It’s not our business to get involved in the politics of a village, but it is our job to maintain public safety,” said Captain Michael Girard of the State Police.

During the time State Police were focused on the village of Gouverneur, more than 50 tickets were handed out for everything from speeding to inadequate exhaust.

Anonymous postings on online forums and web boards suggested the State Police enforcement effort was because troopers were spending more time handling complaints in the village, taking time away from their other responsibilities.

The State Police detail ran from late Wednesday night through early Thursday morning - times that are normally not covered by a village police presence because of a manpower issue.

State Police tell us motorists can continue to expect additional enforcement details similar to the one in Gouverneur in other communities in the weeks and months ahead.