ANNAPOLIS (AP) — The House has given final approval to legislation to keep the financially troubled Prince George’s Hospital Center open until an owner can be found.
House lawmakers approved the bill Saturday. It is expected to be signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley, who supports the measure.
The state and the county each will contribute $12 million annually for two years to keep open the hospital until a new owner is found.
The measure establishes a state-county authority to find an owner. The authority will consist of three people appointed by the county, three members appointed by Mr. O’Malley, a Democrat, and one member chosen jointly by the state House and Senate.
The state and county will have up to 90 days after the bill is signed to reach an agreement on the total amount of money they will provide to support the hospital after new ownership. Then, the authority will put out requests for proposals to find an entity to acquire the hospital.
The authority is supposed to find someone to take over the hospital by the start of the 2009 Maryland General Assembly session because legislation is required to enact the final agreement.
Sen. Ulysses S. Currie, Prince George’s Democrat, said there have been discussions with area hospitals about taking over the hospital center.
“And they will do a national search for other hospitals to come in and merge with this hospital,” he said.
The 268-bed hospital and three related facilities now are owned by Prince George’s County and operated by a nonprofit company.
The hospital has come close to closing several times in recent years, in part because it serves many patients too poor to pay. The center treats about 180,000 patients a year.
The hospital is home to the state’s second-busiest trauma center. It also has a neonatal center that serves the entire D.C. region.
In addition to the main hospital, the deal would include the 96-bed Laurel Regional Hospital, the Bowie Health Center, an emergency care center, and the 107-bed Gladys Spellman Nursing Center.
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