Kaptur, Save UTMC Coalition Statement After University of
Toledo Decision to Stay the Sale of UTMC
Special to The Truth
Last week, Congresswoman
Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and members of the Save UTMC Coalition,
including state Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) and former
Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner, released the following
statement in response to the announcement that the
University of Toledo will indefinitely postpone the Request
for Proposals (RFP) process issued for its medical center:
"I am thankful the
University of Toledo Board and UT Interim President Dr.
Gregory Postel have answered our community's call to stay
the sale of UTMC'S Teaching Hospital and emptying out of its
publicly-financed academic research and medical campus. This
entire situation demands full sunlight and an accounting to
our citizenry," said Rep. Kaptur.
"Divesting or dramatically
emptying out operations at northwest Ohio's only public
hospital during a public health emergency in my view would
not only be a mistake, but a moral injustice. This campus
serves as a major hub for advancing health outcomes,
spurring innovation for economic growth, and linking to
medically underserved areas in our tristate region," Kaptur
added.
"Significant federal funding
through the CARES Act, which I fully supported, has recently
been delivered to UTMC. To date, more than $21.5 million in
CARES direct funding has been directed to UTMC. This means
the hospital has been provided bridge funding to the future.
In addition, realigned federal and state sponsored care
reimbursements, a dedicated, hardworking physician and
medical corps of professionals and an interim president who
understands the importance of academic medical research, the
hospital's financials will improve," continued Kaptur.
"While today's decision is a
step in the right direction, there remain too many
unanswered questions. A complete audit covering the pre and
post 2015 period at the University will better enable us to
determine how UTMC's financial standing has become so dire,"
concluded Kaptur.
"This is a reasonable move
amid the financial status of the university. There will be
many challenges ahead and we look forward to working
together," said state Senator Teresa Fedor. "We have made
great strides towards saving our public hospital, and to
continue that work, we must maintain our status as a
teaching and research institution. This is not an asset to
be trifled with. We have seen what the hospital can do when
it came to forging the path for COVID-19 testing in the
region."
"The delay will give UTMC
time to identify and finalize partnerships with important
allies such as the Toledo Clinic. Such a partnership would
help UTMC replace more of the doctors who moved to ProMedica
and enhance healthcare for the region. The delay also could
help the Save UTMC Coalition find answers to the questions
surrounding the flow of funds in and out of the hospital and
determine the net worth of this important state asset,"
former Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said.
Northwest Ohio legislators
were scheduled to meet today with Ohio Auditor Keith Faber's
office.
The University of Toledo
stated one reason for this decision was the public scrutiny
surrounding a 50-year academic affiliation agreement between
ProMedica and UT for its College of Medicine and Life
Sciences (COM&LS). The agreement was initiated as a way to
improve the university's finances and help advance the COM&LS's
academic and research mission. However, the Save UTMC
Coalition argues that the agreement has only exacerbated the
university's financial issues.
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