Halifax Health, a public health system based in Port Orange, Fla., has challenged Adventist Health's planned take over of Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach, Fla, saying it will match Adventist's $71 million pledge to the ailing hospital in order to help keep Bert Fish a public asset, according to a report by the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Bert Fish announced its plans to merge with Adventist, parent to Florida Hospital in Orlando, earlier this month. Skeptics argue the merger would allow Bert Fish to transfer commercially insured patients to Adventist's Orlando facility while sending uninsured and Medicaid patients to Halifax, creating a financial burden for the hospital district's taxpayers, according to the report.
Bert Fish representatives argue Adventist has more resources than Halifax, which drove the decision to select Florida Hospital.
The Southeast Volusia Hospital Board is expected to determine the fate of Bert Fish's letter of intent with Florida Hospital tonight.
Read the Daytona Beach News-Journal's report on the Bert Fish and Florida Hospital merger.
Bert Fish announced its plans to merge with Adventist, parent to Florida Hospital in Orlando, earlier this month. Skeptics argue the merger would allow Bert Fish to transfer commercially insured patients to Adventist's Orlando facility while sending uninsured and Medicaid patients to Halifax, creating a financial burden for the hospital district's taxpayers, according to the report.
Bert Fish representatives argue Adventist has more resources than Halifax, which drove the decision to select Florida Hospital.
The Southeast Volusia Hospital Board is expected to determine the fate of Bert Fish's letter of intent with Florida Hospital tonight.
Read the Daytona Beach News-Journal's report on the Bert Fish and Florida Hospital merger.