Ten months after deciding to withdraw its lease proposals for West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, La., and East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America has confirmed it is in "preliminary" discussions with East Jefferson General, according to a Times-Picayune report.
HCA offered the most to lease the two hospitals — $537 million for a 30-year deal — outbidding Louisiana Children's Medical Center and Ochsner Health System, both based in New Orleans. However, the hospital operator received push back during the bidding process. In January, Jefferson Parish Councilman Ricky Templet voiced his displeasure and said he wanted HCA disqualified from the bidding process due to accusations of Medicare fraud from several years ago.
HCA withdrew it lease proposals in February, however, this past summer the Parish Council formally reached out to HCA to consider a deal that only involved East Jefferson General, according to the report.
Although HCA has confirmed it has "maintained communications" with East Jefferson General, no further details of the discussions have been released, according to the report.
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