WPPJ asks state to review Minden Medical Center operations

MINDEN, La. – The Webster Parish Police Jury wants the state health department to review the Minden Medical Center in response to concerns raised about its operations.

The request also comes at a time when the hospital’s owner, Allegiance Health Management, faces over $41 million in unpaid federal payroll taxes in addition to hundreds thousands more owed to service vendors.

The resolution states the Police Jury has received information about the hospital’s current operations, including its financial stability, patient care, staffing, equipment failure and facility maintenance.

“We’ve heard of situations at our hospital for some time and I believe it’s time we took the appropriate steps to address those problems,” Police Jury President Jim Bonsall said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Our hospital, the employees and the healthcare for our people all are important to us.”

The Police Jury asks the Louisiana Department of Health – which is the governing authority responsible for hospital licensing, health standards and patient safety -- to provide a written status update within 30 days, followed by monthly progress reports until the review is concluded.

Specifically, police jurors ask DHH to conduct an immediate review of the following:

• Clinical safety: Evaluation of staff levels, equipment reliability and the availability of essential medications and supplies.
• Facility standards: Assessment of sanitation, medical waste protocols and general building conditions.
• Operational viability: Investigation into financial or vendor issues that may impede safe patient care or service continuity.
• Emergency readiness: Review of diversion protocols, EMS coordination and transfer agreements.

The resolution, which is not a finding of fact, mirrors one adopted by the Lincoln Parish Police Jury concerning North Louisiana Medical Center, also owned and operated by Allegiance Health Management of Bossier City. The LPPJ has similar concerns about operations at NLMC.

A message left by KTBS with Allegiance Health’s Management corporate office in Bossier City on Thursday was not immediately returned.

KTBS also emailed DHH seeking a reaction to the WPPJ resolution. A response so far has not been received.

Allegiance Health Management purchased Minden Medical Center in 2018. The first federal assessments for unpaid federal payroll taxes was filed in 2020.

In March of this year, the IRS filed two separate federal tax lien notices against VLHG-Minden LLC -- the corporate name for the hospital -- with the Bossier Parish Clerk of Court’s office.

The tax liens detail unpaid balances from December 2021 through June 2025 on one notice and from October 2020 through April 2024 on the other. One shows an unpaid balance assessment of $13.7 million, while the other tops $28 million. 

There was no indication as of Thursday that any payment has been made, which would prompt the IRS to release the lien. A lien is a legal claim against property to secure payment of a tax debt. The next step would be a levy, where the IRS could actually take possession of the property.

Also filed in Bossier court is a judgment in favor of Hand Construction LLC filed in October against CLHG-Minden LLC for $453,511. The judge also assessed 10% interest, $50,000 in attorney’s fees, administrative and other fees.

A judgment was filed against CLHG-Minden in November 2024 in favor of RPH Pharmacy Staffing Partners LLC for $50,401.

According to an April report in the Webster Parish Journal, two lawsuits totaling more than $700,000 were filed in January against Minden Medical for non-payment of services.

Minden Medical also recently paid about $120,000 to the city of Minden for a number of utility-related bills that were 90 days late.