Exeter Hospital, located in the Seacoast region, has given their top eight executives $9 million more in salaries, yet many care workers have been terminated at the same time, leaving the question of what the hospital leadership’s priority really is: themselves, or the lives of others?
The layoffs started in September when 87 jobs were terminated, but according to Janet Stevens, the New Hampshire executive councilor for District 3, the number could be as high as 300.
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, a meeting was held with the Executive Council about the hospital, where Stevens questioned Attorney General John Formella about whether his department was living up to his side of the deal from the court case that gave his department control of the non-profit hospital.
Stevens supported her concerns by bringing a recently filed 990 IRS filing by Beth Israel Lahey Health (BILH) for Exeter Hospital, showing eight of the highest paid executives earned more than $9 million in base pay for the end of that filing period with an additional $1.3 million in bonuses. This proved the point that they have the money to pay their workers, yet decide that their executives deserve an even higher pay.
Instead of a clear answer, Formella stated that the matter was complicated and a work in progress. However, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu said it was one thing for them to pay high salaries and another to be removing needed services that were a part of a merger deal with the state back in June 2023, totalling $375 million. Stevens also noted the state supported the hospital during the pandemic with close to $2 million in federal relief funds. Despite the seemingly endless support toward the hospital, it seems like the board is taking a lot of it for themselves instead of using it to better their healthcare and support many workers who needed their jobs.
“Nonprofit board members have a responsibility to uphold their fiduciary responsibility and protect the interests of the organization. When signing off on executive compensation for Exeter Hospital – did the Board members fulfill their duties?” Stevens asked. Evidently not.
Formella said he agreed there are “real problems” and his office will be doing its own review instead of relying on what they are being told about details of the merger contract. Despite these “real problems,” it looks like they’re not finding any “real solutions.”
“They signed an agreement that effectively allowed this merger acquisition to take place and there are certain stipulations that have to be met. Clearly a lot of them are not being met so we will make sure we stay on top of it,” Sununu stated. He also expressed the fact that the process will be transparent and responsive to “any violations that might be there.”
The hospital has also declined to release numbers of how many workers have been terminated, somehow making themselves look even worse. They have said areas are being affected by the changes, which they are temporarily holding off on because of the request of the state, such as neurology, podiatry, pediatric dentistry and advanced life support.
Following the meeting, officials were asked to provide answers about the new information about salaries by that Friday, but even that was in vain, as they did not answer those questions either. This meeting shows the corruption in the state’s medical care system, and every action – or lack of – this board has taken since only proves that point further.
“Again, this is incredibly troubling and they are supposed to adhere to the community health needs assessment,” Stevens said. “They are nonprofit, not for-profit.”
Stevens also said that the hospital should have pride in providing to its communities a paramedic intercept program, but they announced they are terminating it, putting yet another unnecessary impact on the entire region’s emergency medical response, most likely for their own benefit.
She said that the fulfillment of the Community Health Needs Assessment appears to be disregarded or ignored, yet it is part of the merger agreement.
Because of this, Stevens said she is waiting on the hospital’s response regarding a $40 million decrease in investments.
These actions have created a ripple throughout New Hampshire, leaving more questions than answers to those who need it most.
Hayley Doda can be contacted at
hayley@kscequinox.com
