Terrebonne judge rules that Thibodaux Regional violated hospital service district law
A judge ruled that a Thibodaux hospital violated hospital service district laws when it moved into Terrebonne Parish.
Judge Jason Dagate ruled, Tuesday, April 30, that Thibodaux Regional Medical Center violated hospital service district laws when it opened two clinics in Terrebonne General Medical Center's service district without its permission.
“The laws that were put in place to protect access to healthcare and the positive impact of hospitals in local communities has been upheld,” Terrebonne General President and CEO Phyllis Peoples said. “Thibodaux Regional’s blatant disregard for laws in order to benefit themselves and at the expense of their neighbors is unlawful and unacceptable, and we are more than pleased with the ruling.”
Louisiana law created zones of control for hospital service districts that act as quasi-governmental entities with the task of providing healthcare to the people of their district. Hospital service districts cannot overlap without agreement from the service district in charge of the area.
Thibodaux Regional argued that it separated itself from its service district for the express purpose of moving outside its zone. By becoming a nonprofit entity, it argued, it was no longer bound by service district laws. It opened two clinics in Terrebonne Parish, one in Assumption Parish, and one in St. James Parish.
There is a pending lawsuit with St. James's hospital service district against Thibodaux Regional.
The Terrebonne clinics are located at 1238 St. Charles St. in Houma, opened in February of 2022, and an urgent care clinic at 1411 St. Charles St. in Houma which opened in September 2021. Terrebonne General initiated the lawsuit in 2022.
Thibodaux Regional stated in a news release that it will be appealing the decision.
"Judge Dagate has ruled in favor of Terrebonne General and imposed an injunction against Thibodaux Regional to close the urgent care and multi-specialty clinic. Thibodaux Regional Health System will continue to oppose Terrebonne General’s lawsuit and intends to appeal the court’s ruling to the First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge," the hospital said in its release.
This article originally appeared on The Courier: Terrebonne judge rules on hospital dispute
