Lewistown (Pa.) Hospital and Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health System announced they have signed a definitive agreement to merge.
The two health systems signed a letter of intent to merge in December and in February extended the initial deadline to complete the merger from March 5 to July 1. In the latest release, both systems said the deal will need an additional three months to complete the appropriate regulatory review.
The agreement requires Geisinger to:
• Keep Lewistown open as an acute-care hospital
• Invest more than $50 million to renovate the facility and replace imaging and emergency department equipment
• Re-employ as many staff members as it is able with comparable benefits and compensation
• Continue and retain its open medical staff of independent, employed and contracted physicians
• Maintain current contracts with payers
• Operate Lewiston's nursing school
• Recruit needed specialists
• Provide charity care at or above Lewistown's current levels
• Assume Lewistown's long-term debt and unfunded liabilities
• Create a community advisory board
• Rename itself Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital
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