Schuylkill County renews autopsy contract

During a meeting Wednesday, the Schuylkill County Commissioners renewed an agreement with the Reading Hospital for autopsy services, at a rate of $2,500 each, which would be performed by a board-certified forensic pathologist. The agreement begins Jan. 1, 2020, and ends Dec. 31, 2021.

The existing two-year contract had expired as Reading Health System completed the acquisition of five hospitals from the subsidiaries of Community Health Systems. The acquisition was completed in October 2017. The newly formed health system — called Tower Health — includes Reading Hospital in West Reading, Brandywine Hospital in Coatesville, Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia, Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Phoenixville Hospital in Phoenixville, and Pottstown Hospital in Pottstown.

Schuylkill County has been contracting with Reading Hospital since 2011, when the Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, terminated its contract with the county for autopsies and pathology services. The county’s first contract with Reading Hospital was for six months, at a rate of $1,500 per autopsy.

After the meeting, Commissioners’ Chairman George Halcovage said that the Coroner’s Office solicitor, Eric Mica, has been working hard to negotiate the contract. The commissioners, Mica and District Attorney Mike O’Pake, along with representatives from the Pennsylvania State Police, had a meeting with Reading Hospital officials earlier this fall to discuss needs and goals.

“It was important that the autopsy service remain close to the county,” Commissioner Gary Hess said after the meeting. “It would be great to get it back to Pottsville. Maybe that can happen in the future.”

Halcovage said that in a two-year time frame, there were 22 requests for a forensic autopsy. Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David Moylan established virtual autopsy protocols in 2012, to be used when an open, “traditional” autopsy was not needed. Since January 2019, the Schuylkill County Coroner has ordered 15 “traditional” autopsies. In 2011, the county coroner ordered 110 traditional autopsies.

The virtual autopsy cost to the county is $50 for the technician deputy, and $30 each for two assistant deputies. Descendants can request a meeting to review the autopsy report, view the virtual autopsy and interpret toxicology reports, if applicable.