A spokesperson for Mercy Health - St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital shared with 21 News that the hospital is in full compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is no longer at risk of losing its accreditation.

In late September, a 21 News Watchdog Report revealed that Medicare enrollees are at risk of losing access to coverage at the only hospital in downtown Youngstown after Mercy Health St. Elizabeth was found to be not in compliance with Medicare requirements after a review from September 3. 

The media spokesperson for  the hospital shared the following statement:

'For more than a century, Mercy Health has been a trusted provider of compassionate, high-quality care to the Mahoning Valley, and it is our honor to serve this community.'

St. Elizabeth has been a Medicare-accredited hospital for as long as the program has existed.

A letter sent to the hospital following the review in September from CMS didn't specify what problems led to the discussion of possible loss of certification, but it came days after a patient fatally shot himself inside the hospital in August.

St. E's CMS compliance needed to be approved by December 17. 

A loss of certification would have meant losing a provider agreement for both Medicare and Medicaid.

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