Audrain County Commission lays out conditions for support of failed health care provider

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Audrain County Commission on Tuesday issued a letter to residents that lays out the specific conditions in which it would support Noble Health/Ziva.

Nobel Health announced the closure of its hospitals in 2022 .  Rural health care has been an issue across Missouri. according to the 2021 Health in Rural Missouri report, there are 55 rural counties in Missouri without a hospital .

The provider is currently in bankruptcy court, where a settlement had been proposed for former employees at its hospitals in Callaway and Audrain counties.

The commission stated in the letter that it will only support Noble Health if it brings a “bring a credible, known and respected health care provider with previous experience in operating a hospital as the proposed operator,” and “arrangements must be made to pay the property taxes, which are due.”

ABC 17 News previously reported that Noble Health owed nearly $528,000 in taxes to Audrain and Callaway counties.

“It is obvious that the real estate investor model for a rural hospital does not work.  This is the third failed attempt in Audrain County.  We cannot put tax dollars into such a model that does not work,” the letter reads. It later states, “The failed model of operation has been very harmful to our community. It has resulted in unpaid employees, unpaid insurance premiums, unpaid vendors and unpaid individual loans and bank loans.  The ‘real estate investor’ model just does not work in rural healthcare. Our community has been dealt a major economic blow and has been without an Emergency Room far too long.”

In its letter, the commission stated it authorized a $1.8 million loan from the American Rescue Plan Act to help Noble Audrain to meet its payroll and allow anesthesia services. The commission stated the loan has not been repaid.

“We are ready, willing and able to engage in discussions with any party that can bring these services to our community.  Per the advice of our lawyers, this is all that we can say at this time,” the letter reads.

Read the full letter below:

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