The exclusivity requirement included as part of Boston-based Steward Health System's $1.1 billion bid to acquire financially struggling Jackson Health System in Miami is drawing concern from hospital and Miami-Dade County officials, according to a Miami Herald report.
An assistant county attorney who handles legal issues for Jackson Health said that the law does not allow one entity to examine the records of Jackson Health without allowing other groups the opportunity. Steward had requested an exclusive 60-day period to examine Jackson's records and offer a more specific bid.
Several members of the Public Health Trust, which oversees Jackson, also said Steward's bid should not be considered exclusively. The Trust, however, might not have that much say in the future of the system. The Miami-Dade County Commission recently informed the Trust it would be taking over talks surrounding the bid.
It seems, though, that even the Commission is wary of Steward's bid. Joe Martinez, chairman of the County Commission and a member of the Trust, said selling Jackson to a for-profit should be a "very, very, very last resort," adding a sale would likely require voter approval, according to the report.
Read the Miami Herald report on Jackson Health.
Read more coverage on Jackson Health:
- Miami-Dade County Will Oversee Bid for Jackson Health, Taking Over for Public Health Trust
- Boston's Steward Healthcare Bids $1.1B for Miami's Jackson Health System
An assistant county attorney who handles legal issues for Jackson Health said that the law does not allow one entity to examine the records of Jackson Health without allowing other groups the opportunity. Steward had requested an exclusive 60-day period to examine Jackson's records and offer a more specific bid.
Several members of the Public Health Trust, which oversees Jackson, also said Steward's bid should not be considered exclusively. The Trust, however, might not have that much say in the future of the system. The Miami-Dade County Commission recently informed the Trust it would be taking over talks surrounding the bid.
It seems, though, that even the Commission is wary of Steward's bid. Joe Martinez, chairman of the County Commission and a member of the Trust, said selling Jackson to a for-profit should be a "very, very, very last resort," adding a sale would likely require voter approval, according to the report.
Read the Miami Herald report on Jackson Health.
Read more coverage on Jackson Health:
- Miami-Dade County Will Oversee Bid for Jackson Health, Taking Over for Public Health Trust
- Boston's Steward Healthcare Bids $1.1B for Miami's Jackson Health System