In a letter sent to the City of Fosston today, Essentia Health and First Care Medical Services (FCMS) assert that the City does not have the authority to unilaterally terminate the 2009 affiliation agreement or force the transfer of FCMS to the City. Instead, it is Essentia’s position that the City can only terminate its own participation in the affiliation agreement overseeing health care in the Fosston area.

As a result, Essentia accepts the City’s Nov. 26 decision to remove itself from the affiliation agreement, while we continue to own and operate FCMS, which includes the Fosston hospital, nursing home and neighboring clinics. 

As always, we remain committed to providing excellent local health care, and patients should not expect to see any operational changes despite the City’s action.

Key facts of the Essentia Health-Fosston affiliation agreement

• Since 2009, Essentia has been the sole owner of FCMS, which includes the hospital, clinic and nursing home in Fosston, as well as clinics in Oklee and Bagley.
• The City of Fosston’s role was to appoint one member to the FCMS board of directors and to ensure that certain services are provided.
• The City of Fosston can’t terminate the affiliation agreement and require the transfer of FCMS to the City because Essentia is meeting the terms of the agreement according to a neutral arbitration panel’s ruling in September.
• The arbitration panel specifically found that Essentia is continuing to provide comprehensive care and services to area residents as required by the affiliation agreement.

Statement from Essentia Health

"The City of Fosston has made its decision, and we look forward to engaging with the community to ensure we maintain high-quality health care in Fosston well into the future. The arbitration ruling in September, as well as legal precedent, permit us to continue to follow our mission in serving our patients, colleagues and the community.

The only thing the City can do is terminate its own involvement in the affiliation agreement. In light of the City's refusal to work with Essentia and its desire to withdraw from the agreement, Essentia will accept the City’s withdrawal."

In our letter to City officials earlier today, Essentia and FCMS cited the September ruling of the arbitration panel. That letter can be read in its entirety at EssentiaHealth.org/Fosston.

What can patients and residents do?

• Visit www.essentiahealth.org/fosston for the latest and most accurate information.
• Call on the Fosston City Council and mayor to stop interfering with the local health care that so many people rely on. Contact information for councilors and the mayor is available at the City of Fosston website.