GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After Grand Rapids-based Michigan Pain Consultants announced it is closing and filed for bankruptcy, its patients are wondering what they will do next.
Michigan Pain Consultants said in documents filed in federal court Wednesday that is aid it is seeking Chapter 11 protections “in an effort to effectively manage the wind down of its practice with a goal of maximizing recovery for the bankruptcy estate and ensuring patient care.”
Patients are concerned they won’t see that care.
“These are our lives,” Lisa DeGraaf, a Hudsonville resident and MPC client, said. “These are what we rely on in order to live our lives.”
For over a decade, DeGraafhas had fibromyalgia, a condition giving her widespread pain through her muscles and joints. She also has serious spinal problems. Her pain has been eased by herregular visits to MPC’s clinic in Wyoming over the last six years to get essential injections, medication and physical therapy. It’s been a life changer for her and her mother-in-law, who’s gone there for 25 years.
“You have a limited amount of energy each day as a pain patient already and these medications give you just a little more energy and a little more ability to go on and do stuff,” DeGraaf said.“It really gave me a lot more life.”
FILING: MILLIONS IN DEBT
In the Wednesday bankruptcy filing, MPC said it has between $100,000 and $500,000 in assets but owes between $1 million and $10 million to as many as 200 creditors.
Its 20 biggest debts total nearly $5.2 million, the filing shows. That includes more than $807,000 owed to medical IT provider Nimble, more than $756,000 to medical supplier Stryker, $700,000 to medical supplier McKesson and a $350,000 loan from Fifth Third Bank. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in claims for property leases.
In court documents, the provider says it thinks it will need to spend about $4.5 million to keep functioning over the next three months. It said its cash funds include about $2.6 million in collectible accounts receivable, $1,453 in its bank accounts and about $750 in cash on hand.
News 8 first reported earlier this weekthat after 40 years in business, MPC informed its staff that it will close all of its locations by the end of the summer.Clinics in Wyoming, Muskegon and Big Rapids will shut down Friday. Grand Rapids, Greenville and Holland locations will close by September.
News 8 obtained a letter sent to staff last week in which MPCs blamed rising health care market costs for shutting down.
“We understand that this news may come as a shock to many of you, and we want to assure you that this decision was not made lightly,” leadership wrote. “Unfortunately, it was necessary in order to make a timely transition for our patients.”
The letter also revealed the provider will gradually reduce its workforce of 138 employees as it moves closer to closing.
In a Monday statement to News 8, the provider wrote it will “continue to offer our full range of pain management services.”However, the provider informed staff it stopped doing interventional pain procedures as of June 10, according to the staff letter.
The group said it would have no further comment besides its initial statement.
‘NONE OF US HAVE ANSWERS’
DeGraaf had no idea the provider was shutting down until it was on the news.
“I found out this happened because you guys reported on it,” she said. “My mother-in law saw the news reporting. She texted me your guys’ reporting and said, ‘Did you hear about this, did you know about this?’ I said, ‘No, what are you talking about? How are they closing? No, they can’t be closing; I have an appointment coming up on the 19th. They haven’t told me anything.'”
Several patients reached out to News 8 this week voicing concern over where and when they will receive new care.
“None of us have answers,” DeGraaf said. “None of us have the answers we need. Everything is up in the air.”
DeGraaf said MPC sent her a message Wednesday afternoon informing her of the closure and saying her upcoming appointment on June 19 would now be virtual to help her transition to another potential clinic. But because her clinic in Wyoming is closing Friday, she’s unsure if it will happen.
MPC also said it’s working closely with local specialists to refer patients. Staff will remain available to find new care options and schedule appointments with different providers, the provider added. It encouraged patients to call 616.317.3877 or email clinicaloperations@michiganpain.com to request their records or get them sent to another practice.
“Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any concerns or to schedule necessary appointments during this period,” the statement wrote.
“I’ve been told they were going to help us; however, basically they’re sending us a list in the mail,” DeGraaf said. “They’re sending us a list of clinics. However, it’s not tailored to our specific needs. Not every pain clinic treats fibromyalgia.”
DeGraaf said when she called MPC for a referral, she was told she had to go to a family doctor first. Though she now has an appointment set up with a doctor, she will still need to find a new clinic. And even when gets in, she fears it will take several appointments before she’s approved to get injections there.
“It’s probably four to five appointments with the next clinic before they’ll even put me on the schedule of theirs for the injections,” she said.
She said she needs injections every few months, which is why she’s worried about a long delay.
“I don’t know what I’m gonna do, but I have a feeling I’m not gonna be doing much outside my house the next few months,” she said.
DeGraaf volunteers to support mothers who recently gave birth, helping them take care of their older children and housekeeping.
“I’ve already called and said, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t think I’ll be able to help you guys until I get situated with a new pain clinic,'” DeGraaf said.
But most of all, DeGraaf said she is concerned for other patients who could have more trouble navigating the health care system. She fears what will happen if they are unable to access their medication or injections and are forced to ween off of them.
“If they’re not understanding how to get off safely and they don’t have the support of their pain doctors to tell them how to get off safely, I am very concernedwe are going to see a ton of people in some serious medical issues,” she said.
On Friday, several West Michigan healthcare organizations released the following joint statement that reads in part:
“The Kent County Health Department, Corewell Health, Trinity Health Michigan, University of Michigan Health-West, Cherry Health and Catherine’s Health Center are working together to support patients affected by the recent closure announcement of Michigan Pain Consultants (MPC) office locations in Wyoming, Muskegon, and Big Rapids on Friday, June 14, and the impending closure of remaining MPC locations in Grand Rapids, Greenville, and Holland in August.”
A joint statement made by The Kent County Health Department, Corewell Health, Trinity Health Michigan, University of Michigan Health-West, Cherry Health and Catherine’s Health Center
They advise patients to contact their physicians to obtain necessary medications or receive a referral to an alternative pain management clinic.
—News 8’s Rachel Van Gilder contributed to this report.
