In Effort To Reduce Its Crushing Debt, CHS Finds Buyer For 2 Wash. Hospitals

Modern Healthcare: CHS Has Buyer For Hospitals In Spokane, Wash.
Struggling Community Health Systems has agreed to sell its two-hospital system in Spokane, Wash. for $425 million. MultiCare Health System is buying Rockwood Health System, which includes 388-bed Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, 123-bed Valley Hospital in Spokane Valley and the multi-specialty Rockwood Clinic. The companies said the price is subject to certain unidentified adjustments. CHS is divesting hospitals and other assets to reduce a crushing $15 billion debt. “Rockwood Health System is a strong healthcare system, and we have carefully considered how to position it for future success,” said CHS CEO Wayne Smith. (Barkholz, 11/17)

Boston Globe: Beth Israel, Lahey Resume Merger Talks. Will Fourth Time Be The Charm? 
The hot and cold relationship between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health is hot again. Top executives from the two hospital systems are discussing a possible merger, according to people with direct knowledge of the negotiations, the fourth time they have explored a deal in the past five years. (Dayal McCluskey, 11/17)

Kansas Health Institute: State Issues Request For Proposals To Privatize Osawatomie State Hospital
The state is seeking a private partner to operate Osawatomie State Hospital under a proposal that would allow the contractor to shift more than half the hospital’s beds to other parts of eastern Kansas. A request for proposals to operate Osawatomie State Hospital was posted Monday on the Kansas Department of Administration website. It would require a contractor to maintain 206 beds for inpatient mental health treatment but said only 94 would have to be at Osawatomie State Hospital. Any remaining beds would have to be in the hospital’s catchment area, which covers eastern Kansas. (Wingerter, 11/17)