COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The final step to the transition of the Community Health Center of Branch County to ProMedica Health Systems took place Tuesday as the Branch County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution allowing CHC and ProMedica to enter into a collaborative agreement.
After raising concerns for the last month about some hospital employees not being able to access early retirement funds under terms of the agreement, hospital employee Terry LaPratt made one last attempt to convince Commissioners to turn it down.
But Commissioner Terri Norris felt it was time to go forward. She said if the agreement is delayed, there would be a risk no sale would take place which could put 610 hospital workers out of a job.
Marne Daggett from MERS said during last Thursday’s work session that regardless of the agreement or changes to ProMedica, CHC employees are still eligible to receive their retirement benefit if they are at least 60 years old, have five years of employment and have separated from employment but the joinder agreement between C.H.C. and ProMedica does not meet the I.R.S. code for severance.
Commissioner Leonard Kolcz sympathized with LaPratt over the I.R.S. ruling. Kolcz called it unfortunate, but he added if the agreement does not go through, there may not be a hospital in four or five years.
With the commissioners approval, ProMedica will officially take over operations of the hospital January 1, 2018.
