Kentucky Governor Could Approve or Reject 3-System Merger by Saturday

Tags: hospital merger | Kentucky | regulatory approval | University Hospital

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is expected to approve or reject a proposed merger between three Kentucky health systems by the end of Friday, according to a report from The Courier-Journal.

Gov. Beshear is waiting to receive a report on the merger from Attorney General Jack Conway and will then base his decision on that information. The deal would form a statewide system between University Hospital in Louisville, Ky., Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare in Louisville and Saint Joseph Health System in Lexington, Ky.

In separate news, a consultant said the merger could be problematic for University Hospital's mission as a safety net hospital for poor patients. Economist David Dranove from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., found University Hospital in a double bind, as it could also face a "dire financial future" if the merger doesn't go through, according to the report. He recommended the hospital establish an independent, locally controlled foundation for mission-related hospital activities.

Related Articles on the Kentucky Hospital Merger:

47% of Residents in Louisville Area Want Kentucky Gov. Beshear to Halt Merger
Details of 3-System Kentucky Merger Revealed
University Hospital Releases Merger Records to Kentucky County Attorney

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