Singing River votes to sell or merge MS hospital system. Will Ochsner make an offer?
The Singing River Health System board of trustees voted to move forward with a proposal to put the large Mississippi Coast hospital system up for sale, SRHS announced Wednesday in a press release.
The vote would allow SRHS “to pursue a fully integrated model or sale with a like-minded healthcare organization that will vest and grow our system.”
A “fully integrated model” means Singing River would also accept a merger with another health system, Communications Manager Ashley Butsch said in an email to the Sun Herald.
The board’s vote comes as the health system manages “complexities of a constantly evolving healthcare industry,” the release said.
“Over the last decade, the healthcare industry has continually changed, with community hospitals like ours facing the strongest headwinds.”
Wednesday was the first time the board considered a resolution to move forward with a merger or sale, Butsch said.
Butcsh said Singing River shared the board’s decision with their employees on Wednesday before they made a public announcement.
If the Jackson County Board of Supervisors approves the SRHS resolution on June 6, SRHS will move forward with the proposal as planned and will be accepting formal offers.
Singing River said in the release they expect to negotiate with Ochsner Health as part of the formal process. The two hospital systems already work in partnership with each other.
Jackson County supervisors also would consider other bids and offers outside of Ochsner.
“If a sale or other full integration occurs, the Singing River assets will be sold to or fully integrated with the highest and best bidder that is identified during the formal process,” the release says.
What does it mean for Singing River patients?
Nothing changes in regard to patient care for now.
“Patients will continue to see the providers and access services as they always have – and Singing River Health System will continue to accept insurance from payers as we do today,” Butsch said in an email.
Singing River also will continue funding the pension plan for current employees and retirees, Butsch said.
How many people are employed by Singing River?
Singing River purchased the former Garden Park Hospital site in Gulfport in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also operates Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs Hospital.
SRHS employs around 4,000 people and also operates more than 30 primary care and specialty clinics across South Mississippi.
The hospital system has been a voice on the Coast for getting vaccinated against coronavirus and allowed cameras into the ICU floors to show the toll COVID has taken on South Mississippi. Singing River, however, stopped short of mandating vaccines for their own workers.
The hospital system made headlines earlier this year when CEO Lee Bond, who was also a key figure in the failed retiree pension plan, abruptly resigned to pursue other career opportunities.
Ochsner acquiring more hospitals across the South
If Ochsner were to purchase or merge with SRHS, it would add to their acquiring of hospitals across Southern states.
The Louisiana-based health system recently acquired seven new hospitals in a Rush Health Systems merger, including medical centers in Meridian and West Alabama.
The Sun Herald has reached out to Ochsner for comment.
This story was originally published June 1, 2022 at 1:48 PM.
