re: Apparently private equity is buying up small hospitals in LA

What can further complicate health care facilities in Louisiana are hospital boards.

Hospital boards are locally politically appointed boards to manage the overall operations of a hospital. Day to day management is handled by a CEO.

Some of these boards can pass taxes and bond issues. Some of them still exist even when the hospital is self sufficient and does not require property taxes. They are also have limitations from expanding certain services beyond their geographic territory.

What has been a recent trend is that hospital districts will contract out these facilities to nonprofits like Ochsner, Louisiana Children’s Hospital, or even a for profit company. The hospital district will own the building and some equipment while most of the employees and doctors are all workers for the contractor.