Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., has expressed interest in acquiring Saint Francis Hospital and Health Center in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Westchester joins Health Quest, a three-hospital system based in LaGrangeville, N.Y., as potential suitors for Saint Francis. In December, Saint Francis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The 333-bed hospital's debt has ballooned during the past few years, due in part to health IT costs and uncollectable bills. Health Quest offered to buy Saint Francis for $40 million shortly after it announced its bankruptcy filing.
The 643-bed Westchester will now put together a competing bid to Health Quest's by Feb. 10. Financial details of an offer were not disclosed.
In addition, New York City-based ArchCare notified Saint Francis it is interested in potentially acquiring the hospital's homecare operations, but it would need a partner to acquire the rest of Saint Francis' assets. ArchCare also has until Feb. 10 to submit a complete bid.
Saint Francis will hold an auction on Feb. 13 to determine the best bid. Any transaction will have to be approved by the bankruptcy court.
Westchester has been looking to expand its operations. Most recently, last May, a proposed merger between Westchester and New Rochelle, N.Y.-based Sound Shore Health System fell apart. Sound Shore eventually filed for bankruptcy and merged with Montefiore Health System in New York City.
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