The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, or SEARHC, won't take over Sitka (Alaska) Community Hospital July 1 as planned, according to local radio station KCAW.
Due to a delayed report on the hospital's outstanding financial liabilities and a postponed meeting between Juneau, Alaska-based SEARHC and CMS, SEARHC will now begin operating Sitka Community Aug. 1.
SEARHC is meeting with CMS to satisfy state and federal filing requirements to close the deal, according to the report. The financial report will lay out what SEARHC might absorb in the sale process.
"We're very positive and this minor delay is just that, it's a minor delay as we are able to move forward and finalize the agreement," SEARHC executive vice president Dan Neumeister told KCAW.