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Another company weighs hospital deal
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
© St. Petersburg Times, BROOKSVILLE -- Just days after Health Management Associates floated a plan to rebuild and relocate Brooksville Regional Hospital, which it leases from Hernando County, executives from competitor HCA -- The Health Care Co. suggested they will offer a better deal. "We are committed to proposing better options for our county, both economically and for improved access to care," said Jaime Wesolowski, chief executive of HCA-owned Oak Hill Hospital in Spring Hill. He took aim at HMA's unwillingness to consider any sites for a new hospital except for a 95-acre tract at State Road 50 and Lykes Dublin Road, 4 miles west of the current Brooksville Regional. Several residents and elected officials have said the eastern portion of the county might be underserved if the hospital goes to that location. "Our first priority is to provide access to care," Wesolowski said. "The hospital will be profitable no matter where you put it, within reason. Anywhere around Brooksville, within a few miles east of Brooksville, it will certainly be profitable." Some county officials said they would consider any alternative proposal. "The full lease agreement is on the table. It's not just limited to Brooksville Regional Hospital," said County Administrator Paul McIntosh. "If we're going to amend the contract, we should consider the whole contract." That includes who holds the contract, he said. Commission Chairman Chris Kingsley agreed that the county had no reason not to look. "Even part of HMA's presentation was that competition is good," Kingsley said. Traversing down that path might have unintended, expensive consequences, though, said Commissioner Betty Whitehouse, a former HMA employee who sat on the board that negotiated HMA's 1998 takeover of Brooksville and Spring Hill regional hospitals. HMA took Regional Healthcare Inc. out of bankruptcy and gave the county clear title to Spring Hill Regional and PineBrook Regional Medical Center, she said, spending close to $100-million in the process. Along the way, several detailed, lengthy legal documents were inked, Whitehouse added. To bring all of the pieces back to the table could be time-consuming and contentious, she said. "It may or may not be in the county's best interest." Considering an offer from HCA also might be a waste of time, because the county and HMA have a binding lease for the next 27 years, said Bruce Snow, the county's lawyer. "If the parties are not able to negotiate an amendment to the lease, then the lease remains in full force and effect, unless one party breaches it or both parties agree to walk away," Snow said. "One party cannot unilaterally walk away." HMA has no intention of giving up Brooksville Regional if it doesn't win commission approval for its proposed move, said Tom Barb, the company's Hernando County chief executive. "As far as we're concerned, it's not on the table at all," Barb said of the lease. "We're proposing an amendment to the lease. If it's not accepted, we go back to the original lease." HCA, which did not bid to operate the hospitals in 1998, plays a tough, competitive game, Barb said. The company's effort to stop Brooksville Regional from moving closer to Oak Hill is expected, he said. What it or anyone else might bring to the table matters little, though, Barb contended. "There's going to be other people who try to put up smokescreens," he said. "All this other stuff is immaterial, though, because these other people are not party to the contract." Wesolowski offered a different point of view. HMA opened the contract and asserted that location is a deal breaker, he said. Now the county, which did not initiate the conversation, has the opportunity to view all the possibilities, he said. The county has a valuable asset in its hospital bed licenses, he said, and HCA would be interested in them. He did not offer details, but said he would schedule time before the commission once he has the specifics in place. "I don't think the county should be backed into this corner with this ultimatum without having all the options," Wesolowski said. - Times staff writer Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government, and can be reached at (352) 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com. Discuss this and other issues on our Hernando County Web discussion forum at www.sptimes.com/hernandoforum. PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Hospital proposal will soon be aired
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