LCMC Health finalized its $150 million purchase of three hospitals from HCA Healthcare Jan. 3 after securing approval from the Louisiana Department of Justice.
New Orleans-based Tulane Medical Center; Covington, La.-based Lakeview Regional Medical Center; and Metairie, La.-based Tulane Lakeside Hospital are now part of LCMC Health, bringing the nonprofit system's hospitals to a total of nine.
The transactions are part of a new partnership between LCMC Health and Tulane University, both based in New Orleans. LCMC Health plans to make a $220 million investment into the three newly acquired hospitals for new equipment, facilities and provider recruitment and integrate facilities over the next two years, including the shift of services at Tulane Medical Center to nearby East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., and University Medical Center New Orleans.
The deal's finalization comes despite pushback from nurses represented by National Nurses United, who petitioned for Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry to block the deal. They argued the transaction could leave patient beds in New Orleans at risk in a city "with a healthcare duopoly held by LCMC Health and [New Orleans-based] Ochsner Health System, which would likely result in an increase in healthcare costs to the community."
Editor's note: This article was updated Jan. 3 at 12:58 p.m. CT.