The Rhode Island Health Department and Office of Attorney General have scheduled public hearings next month on the proposed sale of the state’s third-largest hospital group.
The Centurion Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, wants to buy CharterCARE Health Partners, currently owned by Prospect Medical Holdings of California.
CharterCARE operates Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence, which are among the largest employers and biggest taxpayers in their respective communities.
Centurion’s application to buy CharterCARE was deemed complete by Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office in December.
Neronha has expressed concern about the future of Roger Williams and Fatima under Prospect, which has closed or downgraded some of the hospitals it owns across the nation while steering hundreds of millions of dollars in dividends to senior executives and other investors. The company faces a suit from Neronha for allegedly violating a 2021 agreement with his office, and a compliance order from the Department of Health.
Centurion bills itself as an entity that “helps other non-profits achieve their purpose by developing, arranging financing, and leasing facilities.” In its portfolio section, the foundation mentions its involvement in three healthcare-related projects.
Chris Callaci, general counsel for United Nurses and Allied Professionals, which represents more than 1,000 workers at Roger Williams and Fatima, declined comment on the scheduling of the public hearings on Centurion’s proposal.
Neronha’s office and the Health Department have scheduled public hearings on the proposal from 4 to 6 pm on March 19 and 26, both in room 110 of Alger Hall at Rhode Island College.
RIDOH and the AG’s office — which have until June 11 to make a decision on Centurion’s application — have also extended the deadline for written comment on the proposed transaction through the end of March, at the following addresses:
Fernanda Lopes, MPH, Chief/Office of Health Systems Development/Rhode Island Department of Health/Three Capitol Hill, Room 410/Providence, RI 02908/fernanda.lopes@health.ri.gov
Julia Harvey, Health Care Advocate/Health Care Unit/Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General/150 South Main Street/Providence, RI 02903/Healthcare@riag.ri.gov