State Senate Leaders Raise Hopes for Tenet Deal [WNPR]

WNPR

“It was a good step for everyone to discuss the issue and determine whether or not we could maybe take another meeting to get this back on track.”
Len Fasano

Leaders in the state senate say there may be hope of reviving the Tenet Healthcare deal to buy five Connecticut hospitals.

The Texas-based hospital company pulled out of the partnerships after the state’s Office of Healthcare Access specified unacceptable conditions for a deal involving Waterbury Hospital.

Tenet executive Trip Pilgrim Thursday accepted an invitation to meet with senior senators. The new Senate minority leader, Len Fasano, told WNPR that although no substantive issues were settled, the meeting was positive.

“It was a good step,” Fasano said, “for everyone to discuss the issue and determine whether or not we could maybe take another meeting to get this back on track.” He also praised the Malloy administration, saying “The Governor’s office is extraordinarily supportive in this effort.”

Fasano said he hopes there will be more contact with the company within a matter of weeks. “I think there’s a genuine feeling that another meeting will continue on keeping the communication open,” he said.

Waterbury Hospital has already said that layoffs may be necessary, even if the deal can be salvaged. The hospital is projected to have an operating deficit of $10 million this year.

Tenet was in talks to buy Waterbury and St. Mary’s in Waterbury, in addition to hospitals in Bristol, Manchester and Vernon.