WARREN, Ohio – Mayor Doug Franklin is calling on state and federal officials to intervene in the closure of two Trumbull County hospitals, which left residents with fewer health care options and employees without pay and benefits.
During a news conference Thursday, Franklin and county commissioners said they believe Insight Health System wants to continue operating Insight Hospital & Medical Center Trumbull in Warren and Insight Rehabilitation Hospital Hillside in Howland. However, six months of providing services without adequate funds from bankrupt Steward Health Care System has left Insight unable to provide those services.
Commissioner Denny Malloy said he and Commissioner Tony Bernard met Wednesday with Insight’s ownership. He said he believes the hospital group when it says it is fighting to stay alive and in the community.
“[Steward is] paying old debts off of new money that they’re not entitled to,” Malloy said.
Franklin called the transition service agreement – which was first through Steward Health and then sold to Golden Sun TSA, a company affiliated with Quorum Health – the “heart of this crisis.” Franklin also noted claims of Steward billing for a more expensive product or service than what was delivered, billing separately for services that should be billed together or billing twice for the same product.
He also questioned where public funds such as Medicare and Medicaid dollars are going. The mayor said he believes a criminal investigation of Steward is needed.
“These hospitals deserve to receive their full payment so that they can in turn make payroll and bring those services and employees back,” Franklin said.
Commissioner Rick Hernandez said he has been in contact with U.S. Rep. David Joyce, R-14th, the governor’s office and other state officials.
In October 2024, Insight acquired the former Trumbull Regional Medical Center and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital from Steward, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May.
Malloy said if Insight must file a civil lawsuit against Steward, it will be long and drawn out, which would “bleed them dry” and diminish any chance of the hospitals reopening. He suggested it would be better for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to pursue criminal charges against Steward in an attempt to get the money back.
Their request for help comes the same week Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy filed a supplemental budget for her state, which included $134.5 million as a safety net for hospitals, to help communities impacted by health care costs and shortages. That state was home to eight of Steward’s 31 hospitals when it filed for bankruptcy May 6, 2024. Six of those hospitals were sold, and two closed.
In January, Healy signed a bill that aims to provide better oversight of the health care system, including the owners of hospitals in her state, with the goal of stopping the next private-equity firm from obtaining hospitals.
Franklin said the city and Trumbull County are still struggling from Steward’s mismanagement of the hospitals.
“Insight does have a plan, but they can’t do it without the funds that are being held by Steward,” Franklin said. “Let me be clear – the citizens of Warren and Trumbull County shouldn’t be burdened with paying for Steward’s bankruptcy. We’ve paid too much for Steward’s problems and profits already.”
Franklin said the city needs Insight Trumbull, in addition to Mercy Health St. Joseph Warren Hospital.
Employees didn’t receive their paychecks last Friday, but officials said Thursday that some employees are starting to receive their pay.
“Our hearts go out to all the nurses, the staff, the people in our community that are hurting right now, wondering about their paychecks today,” Malloy said, adding commissioners were told nurses and staff are being paid first, then doctors and administrators.
Tom Connelly, president of ASFCME Local 2026, which represents many of the nurses at Insight Hospital & Medical Center Trumbull, said nurses want to be paid and want their access to health care reinstated, but they mostly want to see the hospitals reopened.
“Believe me, this community is great,” he said. “Our citizens come first in our minds, right after our families and our loved ones.”
Connelly said of all the things happening politically on the national level, he believes “there is nothing as important to a citizen as when he’s in the back of an ambulance or clutching his chest” than the lack of medical care options available.
Connelly asked that Insight CEO Jawad Shah be as open to talking with members of the union as with commissioners and the mayor. He said he isn’t ready to hold Insight blameless in the situation and questioned how long nurses and other employees will be willing to wait for the situation to be resolved. He said many are already interviewing for jobs at other hospitals and may be unwilling to return.
During Thursday’s news conference, it was announced that employees affected by layoffs at the hospitals will be able to get assistance with rent, utility and food vouchers through the Trumbull Community Action Program on April 16.
Cedric Brown of TCAP said the organization will be able to help 100 people that day and that the goal is to help them with rent in March and April.
Councilman Todd Johnson, a pastor at Second Baptist Church, said the church also is helping out the many parishioners who worked at the hospitals. St. Vincent de Paul is also offering meals, rent and utility assistance.
Franklin thanked Safety Service Director Eddie Colbert for coordinating efforts with several agencies.
Pictured at top: From left are Councilman Ronald White Sr., 7th Ward; Councilman Todd Johnson, 2nd Ward; Mayor Doug Franklin; Cedric Brown, community services program director at Trumbull Community Action Program; and Tom Connelly, president of AFSCME Local 2026.