Although Forum Health administrators are giving themselves another month to decide on bids for the system's assets, lawmakers are continuing their "full court press" looking for ways to help.
Valley Congressmen Tim Ryan and Charlie Wilson, as well as U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, sent a letter recently to President Barack Obama asking for some sort of economic stimulus package for Forum.
Ryan said from Washington Friday that officials, in the Valley and in Columbus and on Capitol Hill, are pushing at every possible angle.
"We're trying to overturn every stone here," Ryan said.
Forum Health in March 2009 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Its facilities include Northside Medical Center, Austintown Ambulatory, Trumbull Memorial Hospital and Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital. Currently, the system, which employs about 3,400, is $133 million in debt.
In court, there are three bidders for the entire system and one interested in Hillside only.
Although Forum administrators were supposed to have made a decision on the four bids already submitted by Monday, executives Friday announced they will give themselves until Jan.11.
Ryan said he's hoping to get some sort of sign from the White House or leaders in Congress that they'd be willing to help keep Forum intact.
