Attorney General Investigates North Country Healthcare Outsourcing Decision
Littleton, NH – the New Hampshire Department of Justice is actively reviewing outsourcing decisions made by North country Healthcare following concerns raised about potential layoffs and the selection of an out-of-state firm, H2 Hartzler Healthcare, to take over administrative roles. The Charitable Trusts Unit is engaged with involved parties and assessing the matter within its oversight authority, according to a statement from Department of Justice Director of Communications and External Affairs Michael garrity.
The inquiry comes after reports surfaced that approximately 30 employees could be terminated and replaced by Colorado-based H2 Hartzler Healthcare, owned by Matt Hartzler, North Country HealthcareS interim vice president of revenue cycle. Concerns have been voiced by coos County residents, elected officials, and employees regarding the decision and its potential impact.
State Senator David Rochefort, R-Littleton, plans to meet with Attorney general John Formella on October 1st to discuss his concerns.InDepthNH.org requested and received the most recent federal tax Form 990 for North Country Healthcare (2023), which can be found here:
Key questions remain unanswered, including who approved the selection of H2 Hartzler Healthcare, the company’s track record, the role of the Weeks Hospital Board of Directors in the decision, and the selection criteria used. InDepthNH.org also inquired about the current salaries of key administrative officials and the reasons for perceived distrust in the hospital administration. Responses to these questions were not provided by the Department of Justice, Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, or North Country Healthcare’s Vice President for Marketing and Community Relations James A. Patry as of Wednesday.
This investigation follows a preliminary report published by InDepthNH.org on September 8th:
