Mike Nixon, chair of the Tehachapi (Calif.) Valley Healthcare District, wants Roseville, Calif.-based Adventist Health to buy a hospital owned by the district, Tehachapi News reported Jan. 23.
The system is five years into a 30-year lease with the district to operate the hospital. The district began building the hospital in 2013 but stopped in 2014 when it ran out of money. Taxpayers are still having to pay off $66.7 million in bonds, according to the publication.
Additionally, Adventist Health has to receive board approval before pursuing any plans with the hospital.
Mr. Nixon said at a Jan. 18 meeting that if Adventist Health bought the property, taxpayers would no longer have to pay off bonds, and the health system would have more flexibility with the hospital.