SENATOR MCCORMICK URGES CMS TO RECONSIDER DECISION IMPACTING MOUNT NITTANY MEDICAL CENTER

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) recently sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz urging the agency to reconsider its recent decision to terminate Mount Nittany Medical Center's Sole Community Hospital (SCH) designation, a move that could jeopardize healthcare access for patients across Central Pennsylvania.

"Mount Nittany Medical Center has long served as the primary provider of inpatient care for the region and remains an essential healthcare resource for Medicare beneficiaries and the broader community," Senator McCormick wrote. "The loss of SCH designation could jeopardize critical federal support for healthcare delivery in Central Pennsylvania and undermine access to care for seniors, rural patients, and families who rely on Mount Nittany for essential inpatient services."

Mount Nittany Medical Center serves as the region's primary inpatient healthcare provider and plays a critical role in delivering care to residents throughout Centre County and surrounding communities. CMS's decision could cost Mount Nittany Medical Center millions of dollars annually in federal reimbursement funding, creating significant financial challenges for a hospital that serves as the primary source of inpatient care for Central Pennsylvania. Senator McCormick's letter questions whether the Penn Highlands State College facility satisfies the statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to qualify as a comparable "like hospital" under CMS rules. Given the importance of maintaining reliable healthcare access in Central Pennsylvania, Senator McCormick urged CMS to conduct a thorough review of the decision and provide additional information regarding the agency's analysis.

Read the full text of the letter here.