Roxborough Hospital Takeover Opposed By State Senator

A local state senator is attempting to stop an embattled California-based company from taking over .

In a letter to Pennsylvania Department of Health, state Sen. Shirely Kitchen (D-3) formally objected to Prime Healthcare's acquisition of the 140-bed facility.

Both the California state Legislature and FBI . Citing examples from those investigations, Kitchen of the Roxborough hospital from Solaris Healthcare for an undisclosed amount.

"Prime hospitals bill Medicare seniors and others for extremely high rates of serious conditions including septicemia, acute heart failure, encephalophy and severe malnutrition," Kitchen wrote.

The senator requested the state provide her with all documentation related to the sale, with the intention of stoping its takeover. The company has continually denied the allegations against it.

"It is more difficult to undo a mistake than to avoid one to begin with; yet in this case we have no choice but to try... We deserve better than Prime in Roxborough and across Pennsylvania," Kitchen said.

One contention for Kitchen was California recently blocking a similar Prime acquistion.

"A company that cannot win approval to operate a new hospital in its home state should be scrutinized closely in ours," she said.

In its original press releases following the purchase, Prime affirmed that Roxborough Hospital's CEO Robert G. Souaid would remain in charge. However, Prime told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a March 28 article that Peter Adamo took over.

Additionally, Adamo noted Prime was committed to a $12 million facility enhancement. Prime generally purchases financially struggling companies and fixes them up.

At this point, Kitchen may be too late in her efforts.