News & Press Releases
June 30, 2009 — CharterCare Health Partners Receives Favorable Vote on Change in Effective Control Application.
CharterCare Health Partners (CCHP), the health system that is proposed to be created through the affiliation of St. Joseph Health Services of Rhode Island (SJHSRI) and Roger Williams Medical Center (RWMC), moved a step closer to becoming reality today as the Rhode Island Health Services Council unanimously recommended approval of the "change in effective control" (CEC) application submitted by SJHSRI and RWMC.
The council's advisory opinion now goes to the Director of the RI Department of Health for his final approval.
Approval of CCHP's application also requires successful review under the state's Hospital Conversion Act, at which point the CEC approval will transfer governance control of SJHSRI, RWMC (and RWMC's affiliate Elmhurst Extended Care) to CCHP when and if the office of Rhode Island Attorney General and the Department of Health issue approval of the affiliation proposal. The CEC action also provides approval of CCHP's proposed corporate organization and governance structure.
Roger Williams Medical Center and CHP President and CEO Kenneth Belcher welcomed the CEC approval, stating "This action is an important step in the overall approval process, as it recognizes that our proposed corporate organization and governance meets the standards set under Rhode Island law. We now await the final determination of our application under the Hospital Conversion Act".
The Hospital Conversion Act review, which determines whether or not the proposed affiliation will benefit the state and meet the legal and financial requirements of a balanced health care system, is moving forward on schedule.
"We are certainly pleased with the council's unanimous recommendation", said John M. Fogarty, President and CEO of St. Joseph Health Services of RI, adding, "the process continues to be thorough and fair and it is our hope that we can receive the remaining approvals on schedule".
If the application is approved, CharterCare Health Partners will operate a total of 579 licensed hospital beds, employ approximately 3200 health professionals and have annual operating revenues of approximately $330 million.