Magee, Miss.-based Pioneer Health Services filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy April 2. Now, a small county government in Danbury, N.C., is looking to take over operations at one of Pioneer's hospitals, reports The Stoke News.
Below are three things to know proposed transaction.
1. Members of the Stokes County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a letter of intent Tuesday to have operations of Danbury-based Pioneer Community Hospital of Stokes County transferred under county management.
2. In the letter, the county said it is working to establish a legally binding agreement with Pioneer by May 31. The county expects the transfer period to take about six months, during which hospital operations would continue under Pioneer's existing Certificate of Need.
3. Board Chair Leon Inman told The Stokes News, "Our choices are to do this [takeover] or Pioneer closes the hospital, and not only the hospital, but all the related services, including the surgery center, urgent care and medical office building in King. We feel like we owe it to the county to at least try."