Tennessee Attorney General Continues Review of Unicoi Hospital Purchase

The Tennessee attorney general's office plans to release its decision concerning the sale of Unicoi County Memorial Hospital in Erwin, Tenn., to Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance close to the deal's proposed closing date, Nov. 1, according to a Johnson City Press report.

The attorney general's office won't issue a notice of enforcement intent sooner because the deal could change right before its closing date, and state officials want to act on the most current information, attorney general's office spokeswoman Sharon Curtis-Flair said in an email to the Press.

The Unicoi County Commission in Erwin, Tenn., unanimously approved the sale in August. The commission also approved an acknowledgement of a contribution agreement involving the hospital, the county and MSHA. Under the agreement, MSHA is set to provide the county with $750,000 upon closing the transaction.

The hospital board voted in July to accept MSHA's proposal to acquire the public-owned hospital. The Erwin, Tenn., Board of Mayor and Alderman also voted to approve the sale.

The hospital board and MSHA had originally reached a definitive agreement in April, but the UCMH board met to reconsider proposals from MSHA and Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System after the Tennessee attorney general's office delayed the acquisition in June due to concerns over open meeting laws and lack of approval from local authorities.

More Articles on Unicoi County Memorial Hospital:
Commissioners Approve Mountain States' Purchase of Unicoi County Memorial Hospital 
Unicoi Hospital Accepts Additional Credit Line Extension From Mountain States
Board Supports Mountain States Acquisition of Unicoi Hospital