INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Hospital District has set aside $2 million in taxpayer funds to support maternity services at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, but officials say an agreement must still be finalized before the money changes hands.
The funding aims to help cover labor and delivery costs at the county’s only hospital offering those services. District Executive Director Frank Isele said the allocation is earmarked for the next fiscal year and would primarily assist with care for low-income patients.
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, which handles about 80% of the county’s births, faces an annual shortfall of $3 million to $4 million in its labor and delivery unit, according to Dr. Richard Rothman, the hospital’s vice president and chief medical officer. The $2 million infusion would help offset those losses, he said, though the hospital insists its operations aren’t dependent on the district’s support.
The potential funding comes amid growing community concerns over access to local maternity care. Earlier this year, Cleveland Clinic shuttered its labor and delivery unit in neighboring Martin County due to staffing challenges. In Indian River County, a district survey found overwhelming support: 92% of respondents want such services to remain local, and 79% back using tax dollars to subsidize them for underserved families.
Megan McFall, CEO of the Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition, has warned that losing the unit would harm maternal and infant health across the region. The coalition, which aids families from pregnancy through early childhood, underscores the broader stakes.
An existing agreement between the district and hospital runs through December 2028. However, the new deal would address immediate needs. The hospital, the county’s largest employer with more than 2,500 workers, reported a $64 million overall loss in 2023, though officials say efforts to narrow that gap are underway.
The hospital plays a critical role in public health since it’s the county’s sole provider of birthing services. Rothman said the hospital is in the business of taking care of people.
Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital provides a range of maternity services focused on family-centered care, from prenatal consultations to labor and delivery.
