The plan would create taxpayer-supported clinics and a hospital to treat uninsured patients, thereby taking financial pressure off the county’s private hospitals to treat these patients. Officials mentioned a public takeover of Tenet-owned St. Mary’s in their discussions. Tenet’s contract requiring it to keep the hospital expires in June 2011.
Tenet purchased St. Mary’s in 2001 after its then-owner, Intercoastal Health System, planned to close the hospital due to financial struggles caused by treating a large number of Medicaid and uninsured patients.
St. Mary’s officials expressed frustration regarding the talks of a public takeover, according to the report.
Any plans for a takeover would require a public vote.
Read the Palm Beach Post‘s report on St. Mary’s Medical Center.
