Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway has ruled that University Hospital in Louisville is a public institution — a decision that could affect a three-system merger in Kentucky, according to a Courier-Journal report.
Organizations had requested the AG declare University Medical Center — doing business as University Hospital — a public institution in September. UMC had refused to provide documents requested by a civil liberties union and The Courier-Journal, saying its status as a "non-profit corporation," not a public agency, made it exempt to open-record laws.
Mr. Conway said UMC violated the state's open-record laws by refusing to turn over those records. He said the hospital is a public agency because "it was established and created, and is controlled, by the University of Louisville," according to the report.
Several public officials and legislators have said the hospital is obviously public, but U of L officials have contended that it is private since its operator is a corporation.
The argument that the deal would violate the Constitution's ban on government favoring a religion is based on the belief that University is a public hospital, according to the report. The decision could affect the merger between University Hospital, Louisville-based Jewish Hospital and St. Mary's HealthCare and Lexington, Ky.-based St. Joseph Health, which would put the now-deemed public hospital under Catholic control.
Kentucky's Baptist Hospital East to Take Over Tubal Ligations so University Hospital Can Abide by Catholic Directives
FTC Clears Pending 3-System Merger in Kentucky
Organizations had requested the AG declare University Medical Center — doing business as University Hospital — a public institution in September. UMC had refused to provide documents requested by a civil liberties union and The Courier-Journal, saying its status as a "non-profit corporation," not a public agency, made it exempt to open-record laws.
Mr. Conway said UMC violated the state's open-record laws by refusing to turn over those records. He said the hospital is a public agency because "it was established and created, and is controlled, by the University of Louisville," according to the report.
Several public officials and legislators have said the hospital is obviously public, but U of L officials have contended that it is private since its operator is a corporation.
The argument that the deal would violate the Constitution's ban on government favoring a religion is based on the belief that University is a public hospital, according to the report. The decision could affect the merger between University Hospital, Louisville-based Jewish Hospital and St. Mary's HealthCare and Lexington, Ky.-based St. Joseph Health, which would put the now-deemed public hospital under Catholic control.
Related Articles on University Hospital:
Organizations Request Kentucky AG Reevaluate Public Status of University HospitalKentucky's Baptist Hospital East to Take Over Tubal Ligations so University Hospital Can Abide by Catholic Directives
FTC Clears Pending 3-System Merger in Kentucky