HCA, Health Midwest sign definitive sale agreement

HCA, Nashville, and Health Midwest, Kansas City, Mo., have signed a definitive agreement for HCA's proposed $1.1 billion purchase of the not-for-profit system, which owns seven hospitals, operates two and manages four in Kansas and Missouri. About $800 million of the sale proceeds is expected to be available to fund a healthcare foundation. The third of at least four public hearings scheduled on the deal commences tomorrow in Independence, Mo. Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon slammed Health Midwest last week for failing to present in time for the first hearing on Nov. 18 either a definitive agreement or a plan for the foundation resulting from the sale. Kansas Attorney General Carla Stovall is pushing for separate foundations for Kansas and Missouri and conducted a public hearing on the deal last week. Stovall has scheduled another hearing for Dec. 6 in Iola, Kan. -- by Vince Galloro