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Baptist Health Care expansion

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An The '''expansion of [[Baptist Health Care]]''' away from its main [[Baptist Hospital]] campus has been attempted on several occasions, most recently in [[2008]], when the organization announced plans to buy [[West Florida Hospital]]. However, after a major [[Wikipedia:Subprime mortgage crisis|credit crisis]] affected Baptist's ability to obtain the necessary financing, the deal was called off at the beginning of [[2009]]. ==Background==For years, Baptist Health Care has sought to move its service away from its main facility, [[Baptist Hospital]], which is located near Pensacola's urban core and provides indigent care for a large number of low-income patients. On several occasions, the organization has sought to move some of its allowed acute medical care beds from Baptist Hospital to other branches in more affluent neighborhoods, but such a transfer is only allowed after following the state's Certificate of Need process. Baptist officials have consistently argued that the process is anticompetitive and overly regulatory. In [[2000]], a state legislative amendment that would have benefitted Baptist Health Care with a specific Certificate of Need exemption was submitted (~~initially known~~ and quickly withdrawn) under State Representative [[Durell Peaden]]'s name, though he denied any knowledge of it and claimed "[a] lot of amendments get filed with my name on them … people think if they put my name on them, they'll pass."<ref name="hard2believe">"Editorial: Hard to believe amendment story." ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 17, 2000.</ref> Baptist admitted that their lobbyist authored the amendment, but would not identify the sponsor. State Representative [[Jerry Maygarden]] was suspected of submitting it, as he was a senior Baptist executive and an outspoken critic of the Certificate of Need process; he insisted, however, "that was not my amendment and that was not my language."<ref name="hard2believe"/> On [[May 2]], [[2001]], in the final days of the state legislative session, Maygarden quietly arranged an amendment to a massive Medicaid bill with a provision that would allow Escambia and Santa Rosa hospitals to transfer beds to satellite facilities as needed. Officials at other major health care providers came out in opposition to the measure, saying it would benefit only Baptist, Maygarden's employer, as no other organization wanted to transfer beds. "I gave the same authority to [[Sacred Heart Health Care|Sacred Heart]] that I gave to [[West Florida Healthcare|West Florida]] that I gave to Baptist," Maygarden said. "They all have satellite facilities without beds. … I have steadily told them that what they are doing is protecting market share, and I think that's wrong. I'~~Project Argonaut~~ve given them all the same options. If they don't want it, that is their choice."<ref>"Maygarden draws flak for hospital legislation." '') Pensacola News Journal'', May 9, 2001</ref> The bill passed quickly, and Maygarden's amendment survived Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush|Jeb Bush]]'s line-item vetoes. After a coalition of Baptist's competitors filed suit, the law was ~~announced on~~ declared unconstitutional by Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Davey, who wrote in his ruling, "[t]he statute does not pertain to a matter of statewide importance, nor can the statute reasonably be construed to be a demonstration project."<ref>"Baptist Hospital beds won't be moving around." ''Pensacola News Journal'', December 20, 2001.</ref> ==2008 plans==On [[June 26]], [[2008]], Baptist Health Care officials announced a major expansion project that included the purchase of [[West Florida Hospital]] for $245 million ~~(subject to federal approval)~~ and approximately $85 million in new construction. The expansion was intended to be completed within a few months, with an agreed upon deadline of [[December 31]].

{{cquote|This acquisition will enhance the best of both organizations and provides for expansion of our services to meet the needs of our patients and the community. … We know the acquisition of West Florida Hospital will allow us to continue our high standard of personal care while expanding services to serve the entire Northwest Florida region.|20px|20px|[[Al Stubblefield]], President/CEO of Baptist Health Care}}

==External links & references==

*[http://www.bhcexpansion.org/ www.bhcexpansion.org] – Informational website about the 2008 expansion

[[Category:Baptist Health Care]]

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