LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The deal is off between UofL and KentuckyOne Health. UofL will not be buying Jewish Hospital and its other regional hospitals which reportedly have been for sale since 2017.
University President Neeli Bendapudi made the announcement, saying she had to do what is fiscally responsible for UofL and that they could not find a viable financial partner to make the buyout a reality.
KentuckyOne owns Jewish Hospital downtown, Our Lady of Peace, Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital, plus Jewish Hospital medical centers across the city and in Shelbyville.
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he was disappointed by the news.
The interim CEO of KentuckyOne, Deborah Lee-Eddie, said she was also disappointed, but they will now start talking with others to try to pull off a sale.
“As you are aware, KentuckyOne Health and CHI have been in active negotiations with the University of Louisville for the transfer of ownership and operation of our Louisville facilities and services since last December. Unfortunately, UofL has made the decision to end the discussions, because UofL could not find a suitable partner to help fund the acquisition.
In the meantime, we will implement a revised academic affiliation agreement with UofL to allow for uninterrupted care at Jewish Hospital while we work with UofL to implement a plan for transition of services. This partnership change with UofL will likely impact the care provided at Jewish Hospital long-term. We will need time to work through this process with the University, and will share further details as they become available.
We will quickly resume our conversations with other interested organizations to determine the path forward for the Louisville operations. I am sorry to deliver this disappointing news, and appreciate your ongoing patience during this process. I will continue to share additional information as it is available. In the meantime, and as always, please continue to focus on taking care of our patients."
Mayor Fischer released a statement on the end of negotiations:
"This news is disappointing. The Mayor knows how hard all the involved parties have worked and how hard they will continue to work for a smooth transition. From the beginning, his priorities have been continuing high-quality patient access and care throughout the Louisville community, and continuation of the teaching hospital. The Fischer administration stands ready to help ensure those things happen in any way possible."
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