Ochsner Health System could take over the state’s safety net hospitals in Monroe and Shreveport, with the health system exchanging letters of intent with the current operator BRF and LSU.
The USA Today Network reports negotiations aren’t final but officials are working to finalize a deal in time to present a proposal to the LSU board on Friday, with Ochsner presenting the plan to its board next Monday.
BRF has operated the University Health Conway in Monroe and University Health in Shreveport since 2013, when it landed a contract as part of former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plan to privatize the state’s charity hospital system. BRF has been at odds with LSU and the state for several years, with BRF arguing the state hasn’t compensated it properly and LSU arguing BRF is inexperienced and undercapitalized.
“Based on discussions I’m confident a solution can be reached to stabilize the hospitals and the (LSU Health Sciences Center) medical school,” Matthew Block, who has represented Gov. John Bel Edwards in negotiations to strike a deal with Ochsner, told the USA Today Network.
