The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare's petition to gain control of two Illinois hospitals Dec. 29, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.
Kathryn Olson, chairman of the IHFSRB, signed a memo approving the change in ownership transfer Friday for Memorial Hospital Belleville (Ill.) and Shiloh, Ill.-based Memorial Hospital East. In her approval, Ms. Olson stated BJC's proposal met all state requirements and that it was unnecessary to have the full board review the proposal.
The application explicitly notes BJC is not purchasing the hospitals and that "there will not be an exchange of money as a result of the proposed change of ownership and control," the report states.
BJC acquired the hospitals through a 2015 partnership with the Belleville-based Memorial Medical Group. As part of the agreement, the organizations formed Memorial Regional Health Services to jointly govern the hospitals.
Under BJC's restructuring proposal — which goes into effect Jan. 8 — Memorial Regional Health Services will comprise one member, BJC. BJC would maintain "final control" over both hospitals.