Thibodaux Regional says it will appeal ruling on Houma clinics

Thibodaux Regional Health System said Monday that it will appeal last week's court ruling that could force the system to cease treating patients at two Houma clinics.

District Judge Jason Degate of Terrebonne Parish's 32nd Judicial District Court issued an injunction prohibiting Thibodaux Regional from operating the urgent care and multispecialty clinics on St. Charles Street in Houma.

Degate stayed his order until May 5 to allow patients to seek care elsewhere.

The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Terrebonne Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 against Thibodaux Regional and Lafourche Parish Hospital District No. 3.

The lawsuit alleges that Thibodaux Regional's operation of the two clinics violates in Terrebonne violates state law governing hospital districts.

The lawsuit was filed to "protect the public interest of ensuring viable and self-sustaining hospital service districts statewide and to support the healthcare of its community and the economic stability of the people and employees of Terrebonne Parish," Terrebonne General said.

“Terrebonne General is pleased that the Court agreed that Thibodaux Regional’s facilities in Terrebonne Parish were operating in violation of the Hospital Service District Law,” said Phyllis Peoples, Terrebonne General president and CEO, in a news release.

“We believe the 30-day period is reasonable for an orderly cessation of operations at those locations found to have been operating in violation of state law.”

"Thibodaux Regional Health System does not agree with the ruling and plans to appeal are underway," said a Thibodaux General press release.

"Thibodaux Regional Health System greatly appreciates the trust and support of the people we serve. We remain deeply committed to deliver high quality, personalized care, bringing services to people closer to home to improve accessibility, convenience and timeliness of care."

The urgent care clinic treats 20,000 patients each year, Thibodaux Regional said, and the multispecialty clinic sees 10,000 patients annually. The multispecialty clinic offers pulmonology, obstetrics-gynecology, neurology, neurosurgery, podiatry, internal medicine, family practice, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and pain management services.

Thibodaux Regional's press release pointed to a new role it assumed in October 2019, when it transitioned from a hospital service district into a 501(c) 3 nonprofit hospital organization. That transition was approved by the Louisiana Attorney General's Office, the hospital said.