St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center parent St. Francis Care Inc.’s proposal to join a Michigan health system took a step forward this week.
The Office of Healthcare Access on Monday officially deemed complete St. Francis Care’s application that seeks approval to transfer control of five of its physician group subsidiaries to Trinity Health.
The OHCA notice triggers a review period that could last several months and could include a public hearing.
The certificate of need proposal includes three for-profit and two nonprofit medical groups owned by St. Francis Care.
A separate certificate of need application to create a new regional health system that includes St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, and Springfield-based Sisters of Mercy, was filed in February and has not yet been deemed complete by OHCA.
St. Francis Care, which employs more than 5,000 people, has said it hopes it can close its transaction with Trinity by year’s end.
Trinity has agreed to commit $275 million in capital over five years for infrastructure development, new health services lines, mergers and acquisitions, and doctor recruitment.
Trinity has also agreed to help St. Francis restructure its long-term debt, pay down its pension liability, and complete a conversion of its electronic medical record system.
As the approval process proceeds, St. Francis has also applied for permission to purchase Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford Springs out of bankruptcy.
