Iron Mountain, Mich.-based Dickinson County Healthcare System officials said the organization's letter of intent to purchase Green Bay, Wis.-based Bellin Health Systems is still in place and discussions between the two entities are ongoing, TV-6 Fox UP reports.
A spokesperson for DCHS said despite certain speculation, "Bellin has not backed out of the purchase agreement. As it is with many deals of this magnitude, there are ebbs and flows. We are still moving through the due diligence process with Bellin and we are optimistic that we will reach a final agreement sometime in the near future."
The spokesperson also said all DCHS employees were offered an option to accept a voluntary temporary layoff to help the health system reduce expenses and improve its finances.
The organizations signed a letter of intent for the proposed sale last December.