Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Insight Rehabilitation Hospital Hillside in Howland has been dormant since March 2025.

Nearly three months after surrendering its license to operate in Warren, Insight Health System has had limited talks with state health officials to reopen Insight Hospital & Medical Center Trumbull.

“The Ohio Department of Health and Insight officials have had some discussions on next steps, but there are no new developments to report at this time,” an agency spokesman said last week.

However, representatives of the Michigan-based health care system have been talking to the building’s owner, Medical Properties Trust, regarding capital improvement assistance. Trumbull County Commissioner Rick Hernandez said the details emerged following a discussion last week with an Insight Health spokesman.

“I can confirm that they are in talks with MPT concerning what type of capital improvements they can offer,” he said. “They’re looking at the owners maybe contributing and being able to make some updates.”

Emails and phone calls to Insight Health and MPT officials seeking comment were not returned.

Insight Health was once viewed as a promising partner to resuscitate the former Trumbull Regional Medical Center, which had been under control of now-bankrupt Steward Health Care.

Citing cashflow issues connected to Steward Health’s failure to forward Medicaid dollars to Insight Health, all operations within Insight’s Mahoning Valley sphere of operations were shuttered on March 24, 2025.

Those properties were Insight Trumbull; Insight Rehabilitation Hospital Hillside, Howland; Insight Health Center, Austintown; and Insight Health Center, Elm Road. Prior to Insight assuming operations from Steward, Trumbull and Hillside employed approximately 1,000 workers, according to state employment records.

“I felt optimistic,” Dr. James LaPolla Jr., a Howland Township trustee and podiatric specialist, said of Insight’s takeover of the Steward facilities. “I felt that Insight was going to try the best it could to reopen all the facilities in Trumbull County, including Hillside Hospital. Obviously, things have changed ”

Buoyed by local, state and federal leaders, Insight received official permission to reopen Insight Trumbull on Oct. 14, 2025. However, operational issues highlighted in a scathing state health department report and the threat of losing its license forced Insight to close the facility Nov. 26.

The license to operate Insight Trumbull was returned to the Ohio Department of Health on Jan. 21.

“Insight understands how important this hospital is to the health of the community, and we are committed to working closely with federal, state and local partners to move forward in the best way possible,” an Insight spokesperson said at the time.

Insight has not communicated with the public about its intentions since.

As Insight leadership charts its path in Trumbull County, Hernandez said he is looking elsewhere to help reopen the hospital and not “spend a great deal of time with Insight. I have kind of personally looked at other avenues.”

He said is attempting to court interest from health care providers, but cannot disclose the names because of confidentiality agreements. Earlier this year, University Hospitals said it was not interested in expanding into Trumbull County.

“There are some good possibilities,” Hernandez said. “You know that maybe something even better can happen.”

LaPolla said he is concerned the Insight buildings remain unused and empty.

“Hillside is a great building, great facility,” he said. “It’s been updated. It has the means to be redefined as a community hospital.”

LaPolla said Howland officials are united with their counterparts in Bazetta, Warren and Trumbull County in their dealings with Insight Health.

“We’ve been trying to be very proactive and been very cooperative in trying to come together as a unified front,” he said.

“I do know that the county and the city have had separate meetings, because the main building is the city of Warren. But we have kept it open here, and we’re been available for a cooperative program to save all the facilities, including Hillside.”

Insight’s four properties have been appraised at approximately $64.6 million. MPT paid approximately $742,000 in 2025 first-half real estate taxes.

Founded 23 years ago, MPT is a multinational real estate firm focused on medical facilities. According to its website, the Alabama-based business owns 384 properties worldwide with 49.7% percent of those in the United States.

Locally, MPT owns 49 locations in Trumbull County and four in Mahoning County.