Doctors have done the procedure since February on an emergency basis only.

LEWISTON – At the urging of state officials, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center halted Friday its practice of performing an invasive heart procedure, a hospital spokesman said.

The suspension of angioplasty services came in the wake of concerns raised by Department of Human Services officials, who said months ago the hospital was required to obtain state approval before offering the service.

Angioplasty involves inserting and inflating a tiny balloon in a narrowed or clogged artery in an effort to boost blood flow to or from the heart.

In a letter dated Thursday, Bill Perfetto, assistant director for financial services at DHS, repeated his agency’s original finding that approval in the form of a Certificate of Need is required by the hospital because angioplasty is a new service and exceeds the cost threshold.

Perfetto wrote that state review is triggered because the program’s startup capital costs amounted to $110,000 or more, and projected third-year operating costs would exceed $400,000.

In light of that, Perfetto’s letter urged hospital officials to discontinue the service.

Sean Findlen, a hospital spokesman, on Friday acknowledged the agency’s stated position. But he said officials at St. Mary’s still maintain the law does not apply in their case.

Since February, St. Mary’s doctors have been performing the procedure, but only on an emergency basis. For that reason, no patients were turned away when the practice was halted Friday, said Findlen, community relations manager.

Hospital and agency officials have been meeting to discuss the angioplasty program in general, as well as areas of disagreement. Discussion included physician coverage, projected volumes and additional equipment costs.

St. Mary’s has logged seven angioplasties over the past three-and-a-half months. Doctors there had planned to do roughly 40 a year.

A DHS spokesman had said that number was too few to maintain quality standards, citing a national organization’s recommendation of twice that number.

On Wednesday, DHS officials suggested a temporary suspension of the program as a good-faith gesture by the hospital, Findlen said. St. Mary’s complied, “with a little bit of sadness, but happy to accommodate them,” he said.

Newell Auger, spokesman for the DHS, responded late Friday to St. Mary’s decision saying, “At this time it is entirely appropriate that the service be discontinued.”

He said the two parties plan to meet again next week.

“St. Mary’s is optimistic that discussions will arrive at a conclusion best serving our patients and the community at large,” said Jim Cassidy, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System, which is the parent of St. Mary’s hospital.

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