After six decades of serving as a public nonprofit, Lee Health will become a private, not-for-profit hospital system. Lee County Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 in favor of the conversion after hearing from nurses, doctors, finance professionals, and even pastors at Monday's special commission meeting. Many of them dressed in blue to show their support for the conversion.
"I have reviewed the mission agreement you are voting on today, and I am confident that Lee Health will be able to continue to provide vital health care for the most vulnerable amongst us, regardless of an ability to pay," said Mount Hermon Pastor William Glover.
"I'm joined by my fellow nurses, nurse leader, Lee Health administrators and volunteers. Together, we're advocating for a strong Lee Health, which we know equals a strong Lee County," said Lee Health Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Higgins.
The conversion will allow Lee Health to expand services into other counties and partner with more doctors, clinics, and other health care facilities.
"We've been evaluating our structure for a while now," said Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Lawrence Antonucci. "As we looked at the changes that we're seeing in health care and the challenges that health care organizations are facing, especially in the state of Florida with the repeal of the certificate of need laws, we recognized that we were going to have to do something differently."
Antonucci was asked how this conversion will affect hospital bills.
"The average patient, and even the average staff member, really isn't going to see any significant change in what they do on a day-to-day basis. It's really a matter of a governance change that allows us to do more for the people," Antonucci said.
Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman was asked how this will affect the average tax-payer.
"This guarantees that they (Lee Health) can no longer tax taxpayers. So Lee Health, as a public health district, actually had the ability to ask for a tax that goes away with this mission agreement. It also makes them less reliant on federal subsidies. They'll be able to now go out and provide care in order to hopefully support themselves," Hamman said.
Lee Health expects to make the conversion official by Nov. 1.
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