Griffith: CMS Decision Wrong, JFL Will Not Close
- Cynthia Graham
- September 19, 2014
Stating that there are no intentions for layoffs, the hospital would not be shuttered and executives would quickly begin the appeal process for Juan F. Luis Hospital (JFL) to regain its accredited status, Interim Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kendall Griffith said at a press conference today that the decision made this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to decertify JFL "is not a true or accurate picture of the hospital's current operating conditions." Griffith seemed to imply surprise when he said he learned of CMS's decision to stop reimbursements to the hospital, effective Oct. 9, which would strip St. Croix's only hospital of its accredited status. He pointed out he was misled by CMS representatives on the scope of the organization's most recent audit. I do not believe we should have received decertification. I will have that feeling until the day I die. It is wrong. -- Dr. Griffith. "We were informed that a new hospital-wide survey was...
