Privatization of public hospitals appears to be a trend throughout America because of the increasing cost of operations for public entities. Privatization of a public hospital occurs through sale, leasing or entering management contracts. Forty-four of Mississippi’s 106 hospitals are public, with the remaining sixty-two hospitals operating under private management.
PEER reviewed the lease transactions of Methodist Medical Center in Jackson and Baptist Memorial Hospital-North in Oxford. If lease provisions of both leases are fulfilled, the public health and welfare of the citizens of Hinds and Lafayette counties may be improved. Both entities complied with all relevant state laws in their procurement of personal services for lease negotiations.
For a paper copy of this report, contact PEER by telephone at 601-359-1226 or by e-mail at reports@peer.ms.gov.