IBJ reported that Franciscan St. Francis Health plan to build an Emergency room and physician office building is on hold in Greenwood.

“This is a result of concerns about the changing environment related to  National healthcare reform” The CEO of the hospital was reported saying.

The hospital official stated that they have a real concern over reimbursement rates with Medicare and private health insurers like Wellpoint.

We are now seeing the beginning affects of healthcare reform with uncertainty. What makes this even more concerning is that Franciscan was the only local hospital to participate in the Accountable Care Organization initiative.  The ACO model is under the health care reform law where hospitals are paid on performance.  It would be interesting to know what conclusions St. Francis have about the ACO model.

A hospital delaying construction is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Health Care Reform.  Think about all the research of health care that has been put on hold because of the new law.