fbpx

Tag: Geisinger

Geisinger cited for health plans claims violations 

Danville-based Geisinger is being asked to take corrective action by the state after receiving citations for a series of violations from 2015 through 2018. 

An Affordable Care Act market conduct examination by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PIC) found violations within claims processing primarily involving mental health and substance use disorder services by Geisinger Health Plan and Geisinger Health Options. 

Acting Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys said Wednesday the examinations identified violations within claims processing, including claims being denied when they should have been paid.  

These denied claims were largely processed by behavioral health vendors, until 2019, when the company brought all behavioral health operations in-house, Humphreys said. 

“The Insurance Department’s top priority is consumer protection within the marketplace, and these examinations are an opportunity for the department to ensure that companies are held to high standards and consumers are receiving the benefits to which they are entitled,” said Humphreys. “The results of the exam will see some consumers receiving restitution, as well as expected process improvements within the company.” 

 Humphreys said Geisinger was cooperative during the examination, which covers the period from January 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, and January 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. A second claims experience period was added because the company indicated that it made several systems changes from 2016 to 2018, including the implementation of a new medical claims processing system. 

Geisinger issued a statement in response to the citation. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Insurance Department on opportunities to improve, which is very much aligned with Geisinger’s mission to make better health easier for the communities we serve. The review period for this most recent Market Conduct Exam dates back as far as January 2015, and we’re pleased to share that the violations cited in the report have either already been remediated or we are in the process of addressing them.”

The examination also reported additional Unfair Insurance Practices Act violations relating to unclear communications with members, maximum out-of-pocket miscalculations, and incomplete claim files, PID said. 

 In addition, the exam found mental health parity violations, as complete and timely quantitative and nonquantitative treatment limitation (QTL and NQTL) analyses were not available, nor were QTLs and NQTLs applied correctly in some plans. 

Humphrey said Geisinger hired an outside consultant in 2019 to help address mental health parity. 

The department has ordered Geisinger to take corrective action to address the violations. Claims that were incorrectly processed must be reprocessed and accurately paid with applicable interest.  

PID said the company must adjust internal controls to address required claims notifications, accuracy and clarity in its communications with members, and oversight of producer appointments and terminations. 

The company must also reprocess all claims for which incorrect visit limits or cost-sharing were applied and provide restitution to policyholders that were required to pay more than that policy allowed. The company must provide proof of payment, including applicable interest, to the department as claims are reprocessed.  

Geisinger is ordered to pay a $125,000 penalty. 

 To date, approximately 60,000 Pennsylvanian consumers have received $5.87 million in restitution as a result of the department’s ACA market conduct examinations of other major health insurers. 

 The department said it will continue to monitor and verify that Geisinger’s corrective actions have taken place, including through quarterly reporting, as well as through a reexamination process in the future. 

Penn State Health takes advantage of its two Cumberland County hospitals 

Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center and Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center on its opening day last October. PHOTO/PROVIDED

In 2019, Penn State Health announced that it had signed a letter of intent with Danville-based Geisinger Health to purchase Geisinger Holy Spirit in East Pennsboro Township. 

Purchasing the hospital provided an interesting opportunity for the Hershey-based medical system, which had announced in 2018 that it would be building its Hampden Medical Center just five miles away from Holy Spirit. 

Penn State Health opened Hampden last October. The center features 110 private inpatient beds, an emergency department, physician offices and more. The facility cost the health system over $350 million to build. 

When Hampden opened, the newly named Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center had already operated under Penn State Health for nearly a year. 

The proximity of the two medical centers has made the system adopt a “two-hospital strategy” to ensure that it is utilizing the specialties of each hospital to its fullest. 

“When the opportunity came for us to bring Holy Spirit into our family at Penn State Health, we took a pause and said let’s inventory what our plan is and parlay that into what we do well at Holy Spirit,” said Don McKenna, West Shore regional hospital president at Penn State Health. “We really wanted to take advantage of the niche that each facility brings.” 

An early example of the strategy was the moving of Holy Spirit’s labor and delivery and neonatal intensive care (NICU) services to Hampden Medical Center.  

The physicians and nurse midwives that currently delivered babies at Holy Spirit, as well as the hospital’s neonatal care team all moved to Hampden upon its opening. That shift of services opened around 20 rooms in Holy Spirit for other uses.  

A key difference between the two hospitals, and one that the system has been very intentional about, is space. 

Hampden Medical Center was built to expand its footprint and sustain 250 beds while Holy Spirit’s footprint is tight in comparison, according to McKenna. 

“We have a growth plan and it’s the patients and the physicians that will determine that,” he said. “If they choose care here and we continue to grow, we will grow the facilities.” 

While Holy Spirit has less room to grow, the hospital’s nearly 60 years of service in East Pennsboro Township has refined several its services, which Penn State Health intends to continue to support. 

Holy Spirit boasts a level 2 adult trauma center, and more and more patients are coming to the center’s trauma center, said McKenna.  

Other specialties of the center include heart surgery thanks to the Ortenzio Heart Center located on Holy Spirit’s Campus, and neurosurgery. Penn State Health has provided neurosurgeons to the center even when it was owned by Geisinger. 

Penn State Health employs over 1600 people between the two hospitals alone. Almost every physician on staff is currently working at both hospitals. 

The two-hospital strategy also proves positive for leadership, seeing as though the system can have one leader oversee both facilities, be that in finance, HR or any of the medical specialties. 

“Having these hospitals nearby is a net win,” said McKenna. “We can share HR, technology and clinical specialties and we have two emergency rooms we can access. As a patient, I can be cared for faster, by the same system and have access to the same specialists.” 

Penn State Health did not plan Hampden Medical Center with the intention that it would have another hospital in its portfolio down the street. For McKenna, that timing couldn’t have been more perfect. 

“Sometimes you create an opportunity and sometimes that opportunity presents itself,” he said.  

A key tenant of Penn State Health’s expansion in recent years has been the system’s “10, 20, 30” initiative.  

The system aims to have patients be zero minutes from telehealth services, 10 minutes from a primary care provider, 20 minutes from a specialty care provider and 30 minutes from a Penn State Health hospital. 

McKenna said that this strategy allows the system to have “systemness” to take advantage of not just the two nearby hospitals in Cumberland County but the entire Penn State Health system. 

“We can take care of [an infant or a premature infant] in Hampden at our NICU, or if there is a 28 week-old baby that is so tiny they have to be in a super specialized site like in Hershey, it’s all here and we can think about that continuum,” said McKenna. “Most hospitals don’t have all of that in a local area. They are spread out and don’t have that advantage we have it’s because Penn State Health built it that way.” 

Geisinger employees sue over COVID-19 testing 

More than 70 Geisinger Health System employees filed a class-action suit against Danville-based Geisinger Medical Center and its affiliated hospitals and clinics, claiming its COVID-19 testing requirements for employees exempt from getting the vaccine force them to choose between their religion and their jobs. 

Geisinger issued a vaccine mandate for all its employees in August. It require employees seeking a religious or medical exemption to do so by Sept. 10. 

In a suit filed in U.S. Middle District Court Monday, the employees claim Geisinger did not warned them that by applying for a religious exemption, they would be required to be tested for the virus twice a week beginning Nov. 9, or face dismissal. They are asking the court for an injunction to halt the requirement so they can keep their jobs as the case moves forward. 

Geisinger officials were not immediately available for comment. In a statement to PennLive, Geisinger said that its mandatory vaccine policy has already led to a 50% decline in the number of Geisinger employees testing positive and those out on quarantine. 

“As a private employer, our mandatory vaccine policy and the process associated with it complies with the law, and similar policies have been upheld in state and federal courts,” the system wrote in its statement. 

According to Geisinger’s mandate, employees exempt from the vaccine were required to be tested for COVID-19 on Nov. 9, 11 and 16. After that, tests are required twice a week. Failure to comply would result in dismissal. 

The suit maintains that Geisinger is enforcing the mandate regardless of the religious views of its employees, calling the mandate a violation of their first amendment right to free exercise of religion.  

The mandate effects all Geisinger employees, regardless of if they work in medical facilities or work from home. Geisinger’s rulemaking also has no support from any official mandate from the federal or state government, according to the suit. 

The employees claim that Geisinger never told them that, despite the exemption, they would have to tested for COVID twice a week, wear a mask and be quarantined for longer periods of time than vaccinated coworkers. The suit says the PCR and Antigen tests required by Geisinger contain ethylene oxide, a carcinogen, which the plaintiffs must place inside their body through a nasal swab. 

The suit accuses Geisinger of religious discrimination, civil rights conspiracy, violation of the equal protection clause, retaliation and violating the employees’ right to privacy and medical freedom. 

The plaintiffs, represented by Williamsport-based attorney Gregory Stapp of Stapp Law, argue that Geisinger is retaliating against them because of their religious beliefs that keep them from getting the vaccine or being tested. 

Several federal offices have issued rulemaking on vaccinations in the workplace including the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The Centers for Medicare and Medicard Services (CMS). 

On Nov. 4, OSHA announced a new emergency temporary standard. As part of the standard, covered employers must develop, implement and enforce a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy, unless they adopt a policy requiring employees to choose between vaccination or undergoing regular testing and wearing a face covering at work. 

The standard impacts two-thirds of the country’s private-sector workforce. 

CMS issued its own interim final rule on Nov. 8, requiring most Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to vaccinate staff within 60 days. However, staff who exclusively provide telehealth or telemedicine services outside of the hospital and do not have direct contact with patients or staff, are not part of the rule. 

Geisinger Health Plan adds UPMC Memorial, OSS Health

UPMC Memorial Hospital and OSS Health have joined Geisinger Health Plan as in-network providers, the Danville-based health plan announced last week.

West Manchester Township-based UPMC Memorial and OSS Health, which includes OSS Orthopaedic Hospital in York and a number of other health care facilities in Mechanicsburg, Gettysburg, Hanover, Columbia and York are now part of the health plan’s growing network of 29,000 doctors and hospitals across the state.

UPMC Memorial and OSS Health also join Gettysburg Hospital, UPMC Hanover and York Hospital as preferred providers.

“This year, more than any other year, we learned the value of receiving healthcare from someone you trust,” said Kurt Wrobel, president of Geisinger Health Plan and executive vice president of insurance operations. “As Pennsylvanians review their coverage options for 2021, they should feel confident and cared for. Our members are backed by 100-year tradition of quality and a network of the most trusted names in healthcare, like UPMC Memorial Hospital and OSS Health.”

Michael Enriquez, CEO of OSS Health, said that the system is pleased to partner with the health plan to offer care to its members.

“We are committed to providing trusted, patient centered care that is important to patients now more than ever,” Enriquez said.

The news comes after Geisinger sold its Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health late last month. The deal included all regional Geisinger providers, but in an accompanying release the system noted that the health plan would continue to operate in the region.

Penn State Health appoints two leaders for Holy Spirit

Don McKenna, left, president of Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, and Kyle Snyder, chief administrative officer with Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center. PHOTO PROVIDED

After announcing late last month that it would be moving ahead with its acquisition of Holy Spirit Health System, Penn State Health has appointed two individuals for the system’s West Shore leadership team.

Don McKenna has expanded his roles to become regional president of the system’s two West Shore hospitals and Kyle Snyder, a former Geisinger employee, will lead the East Pennsboro Township-based Holy Spirit Medical Center.

On Oct. 30, Penn State Health acquired Holy Spirit Health System from Montour County-based Geisinger pending approval from state and federal authorities.

The acquisition was originally expected to be completed by June 30, but the sale date was delayed after the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office asked to extend their investigations.

A Penn State Health spokesperson told the journal that the system would be finalizing the deal without approval seeing as though neither regulator had announced that they would be preventing the sale.

The acquisition gave Penn State Health ownership of the Cumberland County health system, its 306-bed hospital and 28 outpatient locations across four counties. The deal also included over 2,400 Geisinger employees who have now joined Penn State Health.

Following the acquisition, Penn State Health changed the hospital’s name from Holy Spirit Hospital to Holy Spirit Medical Center.

Don McKenna, who was hired in April to lead Penn State Health’s incoming Hampden Medical Center as its president, will lead both Hampden and Holy Spirit medical centers as regional president.

Since April, McKenna has focused on growing the leadership team and developing a hospital program in anticipation for Hampden Medical Center’s 2021 opening. In his new expanded role, McKenna will give executive level leadership for both hospitals.

“In the short time since Don joined us, his contributions have been instrumental in preparing Penn State Health to meet the unique needs of the communities on the West Shore,” said Steve Massini, CEO of Penn State Health. “Under his leadership, we will deliver on our commitment to expand access for the region’s residents to high-quality, comprehensive primary and specialty care services close to home.”

Kyle Snyder, Holy Spirit Hospital’s former chief administrative officer, has taken on the role of senior vice president and COO for Holy Spirit Medical Center.

Snyder joins Penn State Health after four years as chief administrative officer of Holy Spirit. As senior vice president and chief operating officer of Holy Spirit Medical Center, he is responsible for the hospital’s daily operations, managing and developing staff and ensuring high-quality care and strong fiscal operations.

“Kyle did an excellent job leading Holy Spirit Hospital during his tenure, and his partnership and strong leadership were key to its successful transition to Penn State Health,” Massini said. “We look to him to help us honor Holy Spirit’s history and continue its legacy of providing quality, compassionate care to the community as part of our health system.”

Penn State Health to acquire Holy Spirit Health System

Steve Massini, CEO of Penn State Health, signs the agreement for Geisinger to transfer Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health. PHOTO PROVIDED

After months of antitrust investigations, Penn State Health and Montour County-based Geisinger have agreed to move forward on a deal for the Hershey-based health system to acquire Holy Spirit Health System without approval from state and federal authorities.

Penn State Health announced last October that it signed a letter of intent with Geisinger to take ownership of the Cumberland County health system and its 306-bed hospital and 28 outpatient locations across four counties.

The acquisition was originally expected to be completed by June 30, but the sale date was extended after the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office asked to extend their investigations.

Neither the Federal Trade Commission nor the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office have yet to approve the acquisition.

The two hospital systems agreed to move forward with the deal regardless of approval from either entity.

“The Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General began investigating the transaction shortly after it was publicly announced over a year ago,” said a Penn State Health spokesperson. “At this point, neither regulator has sought to preclude the parties from closing the transaction.”

The Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office both declined to comment.

Holy Spirit Health System was acquired by Geisinger in 2014 and acted as a point of entry for the north central Pennsylvania hospital system to operate in the midstate.

Dr. Jaewon Ryu, president and CEO of Geisinger, said his team is confident that Penn State Health will continue the system’s tradition of faith-based care, something that it also did in its acquisition of the Berks County-based St. Joseph Medical Center in 2015.

“We firmly believe that this is the best path forward for all parties and most importantly for the communities within the Greater Harrisburg region that are served by the Holy Spirit team,” Ryu said.

There are currently no plans to disclose the financial terms of the deal, according to a spokesperson for Penn State Health.

The acquisition is part of Penn State Health’s 0, 10, 20, 30 strategy. The system aims to have patients be zero minutes from telehealth services, 10 minutes from a primary care provider, 20 minutes from a specialty care provider and 30 minutes from a Penn State Health hospital.

The East Pennsboro Township is set to act as a complement to Penn State Health’s incoming 108-bed Hampden Medical Center which is expected to be finished next summer.

“The transition of Holy Spirit into Penn State Health brings together two well-known and respected Central Pennsylvania health care organizations for the benefit of our region,” Steve Massini, CEO of Penn State Health, said in a statement. “It strengthens health care choices, preserves continuity of care for Holy Spirit patients and retains the system’s talented and experienced health care workforce.”

More than 2,400 Geisinger employees will be joining Penn State Health as part of the deal.

In a previous interview with the Central Penn Business Journal, Massini said that the deal with Geisinger allows Penn State Health to grow its practice sites and clinics in the region without building new facilities.

Massini said he was perplexed at the challenges the deal had in getting through the antitrust investigations.

“When you see how this fits in the community, what it does for competition and for jobs, I just don’t understand why this has taken so long and been such a challenge,” he said.

Update: The story was changed to highlight that Penn State Health and Geisinger have not yet received approval Through the Federal Trade Commission and Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.

Geisinger limits visitations at 13 hospitals following COVID-19 spikes across state

Geisinger will temporarily restrict in-person visits to all of its hospitals, including Geisinger Holy Spirit, following spikes of positive COVID-19 cases across the state.

The Danville, Montour County-based hospital system announced on Monday that it will once again restrict visitations to its hospitals on Nov. 2.

Exceptions to the new restrictions include visitations to delivering mothers, patients who are medically unstable, any patients who are imminently dying and minors.

Visitations for outpatient procedures, diagnostics and clinical appointments will not be part of the new restrictions.

This is the second time this year that Geisinger has restricted visitations to its hospitals. The system began allowing two visitors for each of its adult patients in June after first limiting visits in March.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced there were 2,751 new positive cases of COVID-19 reported, adding to the statewide total of 198,446. In its most recent report, the department said that daily increases of positive cases were now comparable to what the state saw in April.

In a statement, Geisinger said it understands that restrictions are a point of stress for families and noted that it provides iPads to family members to help make communicating easier.
“It can be difficult being apart from a family member when they’re in the hospital, and having that connection is important,” the system wrote. “Family and friends are encouraged to find alternative ways of visiting, such as phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means when possible.”

Geisinger employs 33,800 people including 1,800 physicians. The system has 13 hospitals, two research centers and a school of medicine.

Geisinger awarded $978,000 to improve telehealth services

Montour County-based Geisinger was awarded $978,000 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to put towards equipment for the system’s telehealth services.

Geisinger, which operates Geisinger Holy Spirit in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, announced it would be using the funds to purchase telemedicine carts, tablet computers and other equipment for telemedicine such as hand-held cameras and stethoscopes.

The system’s telehealth visits have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with providers conducting twice as many visits daily as the system’s monthly total, Geisinger wrote in a press release.

“Telehealth technology has allowed Geisinger providers to connect with patients while minimizing physical contact during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said David Fletcher, associate vice president for telehealth at Geisinger. “This ensures that our patients can maintain routine healthcare appointments, manage chronic conditions, and stay healthier overall even while staying at home.”

Geisinger is one of 514 organizations to receive awards through the department’s COVID-19 Telehealth program, which has already awarded $189.27 million in funding to health care providers across the country.

UPMC Pinnacle also received funding through the program and intends to use the $705,000 to purchase telehealth equipment as well as launch an on-demand virtual telehealth program for COVID-19 patients.

Geisinger’s interim president of Health Plan makes it permanent

Kurt Wrobel. PHOTO PROVIDED

A Geisinger Health Plan executive of the last six years was named the company’s permanent president this week after serving as interim president since February.

Kurt Wrobel, the Montour County-based health plan’s former chief financial officer and chief actuary, was named the company’s interim president earlier this year.

Geisinger announced that Wrobel will continue as president, as well as executive vice president of insurance operations for Geisinger.

“Kurt has truly stepped up to provide stability and leadership during these past several months, and following a nationwide search, he was the clear choice to lead GHP into the future,” said Dr. Jaewon Ryu, Geisinger’s president and CEO.

Prior to joining Geisinger in 2014, Wrobel was vice president of large group pricing and chief underwriting officer at Humana. He also spent five years in executive leadership roles at PacificCare and United Healthcare.

Wrobel has an MBA in health care management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, holds a master’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from UCLA.

Geisinger Health Plan has approximately 540,000 members and operates throughout the midstate. The Health Plan is part of the Geisinger hospital system, which includes 13 hospitals, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Geisinger is currently working on a deal with Penn State Health for the Hershey-based system to buy the Holy Spirit Health System in Cumberland County, which Geisinger acquired in 2014.

 

PA Clinical Network signs value-based contract with Geisinger Health Plan

PA Clinical Network, a Harrisburg-based organization consisting of independent physicians, signed a value-based contract with Geisinger Health Plan. Geisinger is the fifth a regional health insurer to partner with PA Clinical Network and its 150 independent physicians, the two groups announced on Tuesday.

As part of the new partnership, members of Geisinger will see lower costs when going to physicians with the network, whose physicians receive incentives based on the quality of their services.

“The providers of the PA Clinical Network are committed to the continued wellbeing of their patients,” said Dr. Jaan Sidorov, president and CEO of the PA Clinical Network. “Geisinger Health Plan shares our interest in measurable improvements in quality with lower costs and a better member experience supported by a high performing network.”

The Montour County-based Geisinger Health Plan is a provider network of more than 30,000 primary care and specialty physicians, 120 hospitals and 132 urgent and convenient care locations.

“We are pleased to be working with this physician-led network to accelerate the adoption of value-based care across our network,” said Dr. John Bulger, Chief Medical Officer of Geisinger Health Plan.

The health plan joins Aetna, Capital Blue Cross, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Gateway Health in signing contracts with PA Clinical Network this year.

Geisinger and Penn State Health outline new date for Holy Spirit sale

 

Penn State Health and Geisinger’s Boards of Directors reached an agreement that will give Penn State ownership of Holy Spirit Health System pending regulatory approval.

In October, Penn State and Montour-County based Geisinger signed a letter of intent to give Penn State sole corporate ownership of the East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County-based Holy Spirit Health System. Both organizations now say they are finalizing the plans for the acquisition, which is planned to be completed this October.

The agreement is now under review by the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office if the agreement complies with antitrust laws. The acquisition was originally to be completed by June 30, but Geisinger announced earlier this month that the sale date would be extended after the two regulatory bodies asked to extend their investigations.

As part of the deal, Penn State Health will acquire Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, along with the system’s outpatient practices and urgent care centers in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry and York Counties. The acquisition also includes the Ortenzio Heart Center at Holy Spirit Hospital and Holy Spirit’s assets of West Shore EMS.

“The addition of Holy Spirit enhances Penn State Health’s ability to provide a robust network of clinical services in and around the greater Harrisburg region,” said Steve Massini, CEO of Penn State Health. “Holy Spirit’s hospital, employed medical group and strong community of independent practice physicians, working in collaboration with our Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, offers consumers a strong competitive alternative for healthcare services.”

Penn State Health is scheduled to finish its 108-bed Hampden Medical Center in the fall of 2021. The system said that when the Hampden Township, Cumberland County-based hospital is finished, it plans to deploy a dual hospital strategy between Hampden Medical and Holy Spirit.

Once completed, Penn State intends to change the hospital’s name to Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center.

Geisinger expects to continue to operate in the midstate through its health plan and current Geisinger Health Plan members will not lose coverage or benefits from the acquisition, according to the system.

Geisinger Holy Spirit sale delayed by antitrust investigations

Geisinger Holy Spirit. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

The sale of Geisinger Health-owned Holy Spirit Health System to Penn State Health will take longer than expected after regulatory bodies requested more time to investigate the sale due to antitrust concerns.

Danville, Montour County-based Geisinger Health wrote in a financial update for the nine months ending March 31 that the sale of its Cumberland County Catholic hospital system will extend past its targeted sale date of June 30.

Geisinger announced the pending sale in October after the two parties signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of the health system and its East Pennsboro Township facilities for an undisclosed amount of money.

In its financial report, Geisinger noted that the Federal Trade Commission and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office have been investigating the proposed transaction for any potential antitrust behavior.

Both regulatory bodies have asked to extend their investigations, but have not given a timeline for when investigations will be completed.

Geisinger took ownership of Holy Spirit Health System in 2014 and has since invested more than $120 million into Holy Spirit Hospita, its outpatient practices and urgent care centers. The potential purchase comes at a time where Penn State Health is looking to expand its reach into Cumberland County.

The hospital system is currently building its $200 million Hampden Medical Center– a 108-bed hospital located five miles away from Holy Spirit and planned to open in 2021.

Barbara Schindo, a spokesperson for Penn State Health, said the Hershey-based system is committed to completing its deal with Geisinger.

“We are deeply committed to preserving health care access, continuity of care and choice for families in the capital region,” Schindo said. “To that end, our focus remains on bringing Holy Spirit Health System into our Penn State Health family, and preserving important local health care jobs.”

The sale is not the first of Penn State Health’s to be affected by antitrust investigations by the FTC and the state Attorney General. In 2015, the two organizations opposed a merger by Penn State Health and PinnacleHealth, claiming that the merger would give the organizations a monopoly on the region.

The two organizations agreed to cancel the merger, with Pinnacle joining UPMC later in 2017.