by Rachel Heitzenrater
rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
TROY — Troy Township Supervisors hosted a public hearing for the sale of the Arnot Medical Center on Thursday, April 15. The buyer is North Penn Comprehensive Health Services (AKA Laurel Health Centers), a company which is based out of Tioga County.
“We are excited about getting a branch into Bradford County,” said President and CEO of North Penn Comprehensive Services James Nobles. “We already have a couple hundred patients from this area and we want to help provide closer access to our facilities.”
The $3.2 million purchase is set to take place as soon as possible, after the acceptance from Troy Township supervisors as well as Sayre Borough. The Healthcare Facilities Authority of Sayre will be involved in the financial aspect of the sale, which is why Sayre Borough needs to approve.
“It’s a vehicle for non-profits to obtain tax-free money for appropriate purposes,” said Ronald M. Gilbert, Jr., the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
The estimated goal time is the end of May, with the name changed over by June 1, should the transaction go according to plan. Current patients will not see a lapse in coverage.
The funding is planned just to buy the building, not necessarily to add onto it. However, Nobles, says the company is planning to keep the building’s current staff, which will switch over to NPCHS.
NPCHS is a “primary care business,” which means the primary care provider, or PCP, is the patient’s first stop for health care. Currently, they employ 135 people and have 35 providers in 10 different facilities situated throughout Tioga County. NPCHS works with UPMC Susquehanna, however, they are separate entities and bill insurances separately.
The goal of the 501c3 company is to see patients, regardless of their ability to pay. This means they can offer visits at a reduced rate, called their “sliding scale fee,” which bases a co-pay off of income of the patient.
Nobles says they are a federally-qualified health system, which means they have access to funding from the government to provide care to all patients. They are a subset of the Department of Health and Human Services as well.
“Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve by offering access to rural-class care in a compassionate and patient-centered environment,” he said. He noted that they plant to “replicate” the human services they use in Tioga County.
NPCHS also offers behavioral health, pediatrics, chiropractic care, dental services, diabetes education, nutrition counseling and women’s health on top of their family medicine and specialty care.
NPCHS is looking into urgent care, but like the “open access model” they currently provide at their facilities.
“This means, a patient will see their own provider on a day they are sick,” said Nobles. “Usually, if a patient calls in the day of an appointment and asks to be seen, they don’t necessarily get their personal provider.”
They also are looking into re-expanding services for more convenience for local patients.
“I would like to see some specialists in some of the part of the building that is not currently being used,” said Nobles. “We are trying to make sure care is accessible,” he said.
When asked if they plan to use some of the extra space on a methadone clinic, Nobles said that they do not currently have the system for that. Instead, they offer behavioral health counseling on addictions.
Chiropractic and dental care services are planned for that building.
After the transition, NPCHS plans to encourage local community members to join the Board of Directors and help them assess the needs of the area.
NPCHS has a patient portal to access and schedule appointments and can also help set up insurance for their patients. If you need assistance finding affordable health insurance, please stop into a health center or call their Certified Application Counselor directly at 570-723-3424 to schedule an appointment.
The patient portal can be accessed at https://myupmc.upmc.com.
For more information on North Penn Comprehensive Health Services, go to www.laurelhc.org or to make an appointment, call 833-528-7354.