Editing Hahnemann University Hospital (section)

== Closure Crisis ==

The June 2019 closure announcement sparked immediate crisis. The hospital employed over 2,500 workers who faced sudden job loss. Approximately 570 medical residents training at Hahnemann needed placement at other institutions to continue their education. The closure would eliminate emergency and inpatient services from a Center City hospital that served significant numbers of Medicaid and uninsured patients.<ref name="hahnemann"/>

Attempts to prevent or delay the closure involved city, state, and federal officials. Governor Tom Wolf's administration pursued emergency measures while Mayor Jim Kenney sought alternatives. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expedited processes to relocate residents. Despite these efforts, the hospital closed in September 2019, with some services transferring to nearby St. Christopher's Hospital (which American Academic also owned and which also faced closure threats).<ref name="hahnemann"/>

The residency program closure particularly generated controversy. The owners sought to auction residency slots—the Medicare-funded training positions—as valuable assets separate from the hospital itself. This attempted sale of taxpayer-funded residency positions to the highest bidder provoked outrage and legal challenges. CMS ultimately transferred most residency positions to other institutions rather than allowing auction sales.<ref name="hahnemann"/>