Shannon Health to Hold Hearing to Renew Its COPA on September 16

SAN ANGELO, TX — Shannon Health will host an annual public meeting regarding its Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. at the Brooks and Bates Theater, 82 Gillis St. in San Angelo.

In State Law, Shannon is allowed to be indemnified from litigation at the state level for antitrust allegations, easing the non-profit health system’s legal liabilities. The COPA law is at the state level and does not specifically protect Shannon from federal antitrust liability, although COPA has been used as a tool to mitigate action against it by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.

A COPA is a legal mechanism that allows the State of Texas to approve mergers that reduce or eliminate competition in return for commitments from the hospital to make public benefit investments and control health care cost growth.

State Rep. Drew Darby , who cosponsored the 2019 legislation opening the door for Shannon’s takeover of the former San Angelo Community Medical Center, said the law is just a tool that is used to facilitate more investments in rural healthcare. The law specifically provides antitrust protection in seven mostly rural Texas counties, including Tom Green, Brown and Taylor Counties. Hendrick Health System in Abilene is the only other hospital system covered by a COPA so far since the legislation was signed into law.

In order to retain legal protection for being a hospital monopoly, Shannon’s COPA must be reviewed periodically. This is the second review since the initial COPA was certified just before Shannon consummated its takeover of Community last year.

Shannon stated that, “[T]he meeting will provide an overview of the many positive changes and new services Shannon implemented over the last year as a result of the COPA and integration with the Shannon South Campus. It will also provide a look at future plans to expand access for local patients.”

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services handles the COPA application process. Citizens can file statements is favor or against the COPA directly with this state agency here.

The Sept. 16 meeting is open to anyone within the Shannon service area. For a list of Shannon locations, click here https://www.shannonhealth.com/locat…. Participants will have an opportunity to provide oral comments during the meeting. Shannon is also accepting written comments at www.careforsanangelo.com through 11:59 pm on September 16.