The federal Internal Revenue Service has filed tax liens against an Acadiana medical company, alleging it failed to pay millions in employee payroll taxes.
The documents filed last month in Bossier Parish claim Allegiance Health Management, which operates clinics throughout the state and is headquartered in Shreveport, owes more than $17.7 million in connection with its Eunice clinic, Acadian Medical Center.
The IRS said in its filing it was giving notice for the unpaid taxes, including interest and penalties. The unpaid taxes span from 2019-2024, according to the documents.
“We have made a demand for payment of this liability, but it remains unpaid,” the notice said. “Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes, and additional penalties, interest and costs that may accrue.”
When reached for further comment by email, the IRS said “federal employees are prohibited from discussing any specific taxpayer’s situations.”
Allegiance Health Management CEO Rock Bordelon said by email that the company’s legal department was working with the IRS to determine the amount that’s actually owed.
“The (federal government) shutdown has caused delays, but we expect resolution and payments to be completed soon which will resolve this issue,” Bordelon said. “We can assure you that AHM remains committed to rural health care and is currently working on plans every day to secure even more health care options for the rural communities we serve.”
The Ruston Daily Leader reported that six of the 11 clinics managed by Allegiance Health Management appear to have active liens totalling more than $34 million statewide.
The federal government can file a tax lien against an individual or business when it claims taxes are unpaid or there’s a tax debt, according to the IRS website. After a lien is paid, the IRS will release a lien within 30 days.
The Acadian Medical Center, a full-service hospital, was acquired by Allegiance from LifePoint Health in 2018. It is one of the largest employers in Eunice with more than 300 employees.
Bordelon said Allegiance’s mission is to ensure rural communities have “meaningful access to quality health care,” but rural hospitals have been “grossly underfunded for years, particularly since Medicaid expansion was enacted in Louisiana.”
Bordelon said that changes proposed by the state of Louisiana last year and approved by the federal government have started to address funding issues and “the future for these hospitals now looks bright.”
Reporter Jakori Madison contributed to this report.
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