Capella trying to lease Mississippi hospital

Friday, July 19, 2013, Vol. 37, No. 29

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors meets Aug. 5 to discuss a 50-year lease proposal for OCH Regional Medical Center by Franklin-based Capella Healthcare.

The Commercial Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/1aGJDgg) that Capella originally inquired about the status of OCH in an April 23 letter to board members. How much the company is offering the county has not been made public.

Board of Supervisors President Orlando Trainer says he wanted to give board members time to analyze Capella's letter so the board can move forward with the offer next month.

Cappella Healthcare was founded eight years ago and now operates 14 hospitals in six states.

The Oktibbeha County hospital employs 600.

In 2008, county voters approved a $28 million bond issue for expansion and renovations to the hospital.