Faced with the fact that Pocahontas Memorial Hospital's peripheral businessesﾗOur Ambulance, PMH Clinic and PMH Home Health Agencyﾗare consistently losing revenue, the hospital board decided last Tuesday to sell the home health business.

Since the company has assets worth more than $15,000, PMH Home Health must be sold at auction by the Pocahontas County Commission on the courthouse steps. But the hospital board's chair said a Louisiana company is already interested in purchasing the agency.

Dr. Bob Must said Amedisys, a home health provider with companies established in 27 states, has agreed to purchase PMH home health after a due diligence process. Must said Amedisys was the unanimous pick of the board's home health committee which was charged with finding a buyer.

Former home health director Terry Wagner, who was on the committee, said Amedisys plans to keep an office in Pocahontas County and keep all the current employees at their current rate of pay.

Must said Amedisys offered "very professional standards of care" for patients.

The board voted unanimously to accept the committee's recommendation.

The sale could take up to three months to complete.

Board members approved an advertisment for the hospital administrator's position which will be open in August. Current administrator Don Muhlenthaler told board members in December that he would not seek the renewal of his contract in August. Deadline for resumes is March 1. The ad will run in this newspaper, The Charleston Gazette and others.

PMH chief financial officer Marvina Irvine had no good news for the board, but did say that the "negative position is smaller this month."

Irvine said the hospital is collecting some patient co-pays up front.

PMH has made available prompt pay discounts for patients who don't qualify for the income-based discount and all other patients who have a balance due because of co-pay or deductibles.

A balance paid within 60 days of the initial statement gets a 25 percent discount, within 120 days, 10 percent and withing 270 days, five percent.

The income-based discount is available to non-insured patients who are residents of Pocahontas County. Patients must apply within 30 days from the date of their first statement, provide proof of income and residency. If a balance is due the hospital when the application is made, it must be paid in full within 270 days of the first statement.