CHEBOYGAN -- News of cut backs is coming down on expectant mothers and fathers in part of Northern Michigan.
On March 31st, Cheboygan Memorial Hospital is closing their obstetrics department. Cutting the department means that women in Cheboygan area who are due to give birth, will now have to travel nearly an hour away when the time comes.
Susan Ormsbee is one of the women who may have to make new plans. Her baby boy is due March 20th. If the baby arrives late, she will have to find a new hospital to give birth.
Susan Ormsbee says “I'm just going to hope everything goes ok. If it gets closer to the time I’ll have to see where my options lie. We are going to have to decide which place will be the closest to go to."
The closest hospitals are Northern Michigan Regional Hospital in Petoskey and Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord. Both are close to an hour away.
Susan Ormsbee says "If we had to go somewhere else farther away, it would just take a lot longer. You'd be more worried about if you would be stuck in an ambulance delivering a baby or if you would make it."
Over the last decade Cheboygan Memorial Hospital has been facing economic challenges. They claim closing this unit will improve the financial situation. According to the hospital spokesperson 58% of women in the OB unit are on Medicaid. He claims many times, the hospital doesn’t get reimbursed for Medicaid patients’ treatments.
Susan Ormsbee says “It makes me mad for me and other people. A lot of people are receiving Medicaid insurance. Who is to say if you go somewhere else they'll take your insurance?"
The OB clinic is not the only unit shutting down. 7&4 has learned Cheboygan Memorial Hospital will also close its Urgent Care Walk In Clinic on February 7th.
