A tentative agreement has been reached with Ochsner Health System to take over operation of the state’s safety net hospitals in Monroe and Shreveport.
The USA Today Network reports that Gov. John Bel Edwards will announce the deal Tuesday in Shreveport.
Ochsner is a large health care system headquartered in New Orleans. It will take over from the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRF).
BRF secured the contract to operate University Health Conway in Monroe and University Health in Shreveport in 2013 when then-Gov. Bobby Jindal’s privatized the state’s charity hospitals.
BRF will remain involved with University Health in a diminished role.
The relationship with the BRF and the state and LSU has been fraught with conflict, including breach of contract notices, allegations of LSU and Willis-Knighton Health System conspiring to siphon off commercially insured patients and lawsuits.
