State Rep. Craig Williams (R-160) of Chadds Ford has proposed creating a $200 million fund to entice a buyer to reopen Crozer Chester Medical Center in Upland and other hospitals, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times.
The fund wouldn’t raise taxes and would need no new revenue, he said.
“I need Crozer open,” the lawmaker said. “Delaware County needs Crozer open, and I’ve given the General Assembly a tool to get that done.”
Williams introduced a budget amendment last week that would establish a $200 million Hospital Acquisition Assistance Fund to support the purchase and reopening of closed hospitals in Delaware County and throughout the Commonwealth.
The fund would come from previous budget appropriations that were not spent.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center was closed May 2 amidst bankruptcy proceedings for the for-profit Prospect Medical Holdings, which owned the Crozer Health hospital system. Taylor Hospital closed a week before, and Springfield and Delaware County Memorial Hospitals closed years before that.
Another bill that would restrict private equity transactions for healthcare systems passed the state House last month and has been moved to the state Senate.
Learn more about State Rep. Craig Williams’ state budget amendment in the Daily Times.
