ONTARIO, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs is intrigued by the union of a medical facility and mall complex, describing it as an “economic driver.”
“It’s an interesting concept–tying a healthcare system in with a mall. And I know some malls around the country are looking at this model to see how it works because certain malls around the country are struggling and this is an economic driver. It brings people in,” Gibbs.
Rep. Gibbs visited Avita Health System at the Richland Mall in Ontario on Monday.
He later added, “This is a whole new concept that maybe 20-30 years ago we wouldn’t have thought of.”
Avita, which owns 30 properties, including hospitals in Galion and Bucyrus, bought the former Lazarus building at the Richland Mall in March of 2014 and later opened in December of that year.
Gibbs said the mall has seen more traffic as a result, noting, “I think the mall was really struggling and they’re reporting that they’re seeing an uptick in mall activity here.”
Gibbs spoke with Avita officials during a closed meeting, discussing Avita’s plans for the future, as well as reimbursement rates from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
As it stands currently, “[Avita Ontario] is kind of at a little bit of a disadvantage,” he said, referring to the reimbursement rates.
He said he plans on making inquiries with CMS to help “level the playing field,” noting, “We just need to ask the questions and see what kind of answers we can get and hopefully we can do it through bureaucracy. Legislation is tough to get through Congress nowadays.”
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs is a native of the Cleveland suburbs and was sworn into office Jan. 5, 2011. He serves on the House Agriculture Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment.
He currently represents Ohio’s seventh district, which includes all or parts of Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes, Huron, Knox, Lorain, Medina, Richland, Stark and Tuscarawas counties.
