Post by rocket on Jul 30, 2015 20:25:40 GMT -6
m.mywebtimes.com/news/local/streator-files-complaint-with-ftc-over-possible-st-mary-s/article_fc1d6118-8fb7-5c88-b923-45245d27a210.html?mode=jqm
Streator files complaint with FTC over possible St. Mary's sale
Streator city officials confirmed Thursday they have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the possibility of OSF HealthCare purchasing HSHS St. Mary's Hospital.
"We have filed a complaint with the FTC that the acquisition by OSF would be monopolistic," City Manager Scot Wrighton told The Times.
Wrighton declined to provide immediate documentation of any correspondence with the FTC, asking The Times to file a Freedom of Information Act request for specific information. He said he was unsure which part of the documentation the city could disclose and that he would need to consult with legal counsel. The Times submitted a FOIA request to the city late Thursday afternoon.
"If (OSF) would come in, we could be without a hospital or 24-hour emergency room," Mayor Jimmie Lansford said. "More importantly they could come in and they have a monopoly (on the region). We didn't think that was fair to Streator."
The OSF HealthCare group has hospitals in Ottawa, Mendota and Pontiac. If it were to acquire St. Mary's, that would give it three hospitals within a roughly 25-mile radius.
The Times sent an email request to OSF for further comment about the potential purchase of the facilities and what their short-term and long-term plans would be for the property. An OSF spokeswoman acknowledged receipt of the email and is working on a response.
An HSHS spokeswoman said Thursday the hospital group, which currently operates St. Mary's, will not be making any public statements at this time.
"We are still in the process of determining how best to transition the operations and assets of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital to another provider," said Jessica Michael, interim marketing and communications director, in an email statement.
HSHS in Springfield announced earlier this month it has hired Merrill Lynch to seek providers to transition all operations and assets of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, with officials saying the hospital's finances are stable and attractive to a would-be buyer. The system has identified 16 Catholic and non-Catholic hospital groups that would have the ability to assume the hospital's resources.
Officials for Advocate Health Care, which operate a hospital in Normal, were vague about any possible interest in buying the Streator hospital but didn't deny interest.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Streator files complaint with FTC over possible St. Mary's sale
Streator city officials confirmed Thursday they have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission about the possibility of OSF HealthCare purchasing HSHS St. Mary's Hospital.
"We have filed a complaint with the FTC that the acquisition by OSF would be monopolistic," City Manager Scot Wrighton told The Times.
Wrighton declined to provide immediate documentation of any correspondence with the FTC, asking The Times to file a Freedom of Information Act request for specific information. He said he was unsure which part of the documentation the city could disclose and that he would need to consult with legal counsel. The Times submitted a FOIA request to the city late Thursday afternoon.
"If (OSF) would come in, we could be without a hospital or 24-hour emergency room," Mayor Jimmie Lansford said. "More importantly they could come in and they have a monopoly (on the region). We didn't think that was fair to Streator."
The OSF HealthCare group has hospitals in Ottawa, Mendota and Pontiac. If it were to acquire St. Mary's, that would give it three hospitals within a roughly 25-mile radius.
The Times sent an email request to OSF for further comment about the potential purchase of the facilities and what their short-term and long-term plans would be for the property. An OSF spokeswoman acknowledged receipt of the email and is working on a response.
An HSHS spokeswoman said Thursday the hospital group, which currently operates St. Mary's, will not be making any public statements at this time.
"We are still in the process of determining how best to transition the operations and assets of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital to another provider," said Jessica Michael, interim marketing and communications director, in an email statement.
HSHS in Springfield announced earlier this month it has hired Merrill Lynch to seek providers to transition all operations and assets of HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, with officials saying the hospital's finances are stable and attractive to a would-be buyer. The system has identified 16 Catholic and non-Catholic hospital groups that would have the ability to assume the hospital's resources.
Officials for Advocate Health Care, which operate a hospital in Normal, were vague about any possible interest in buying the Streator hospital but didn't deny interest.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.