Catoosa and Walker counties look at alternative hospital pact

This is the campus of Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe. Staff File Photo by Angela Lewis/Chattanooga Times Free Press

County leaders in two North Georgia counties say they aren’t so sure they will support a management agreement largely worked out this weekend between Erlanger executives and leaders of Hutcheson Medical Center Inc.

Catoosa and Walker county officials will present their own agreement, which is an edited version of Erlanger’s original draft proposal, to Erlanger Health System officials today, Walker County attorney Don Oliver said Monday.

Oliver couldn’t speak to details because of confidentiality issues, but he said the initial agreement didn’t provide enough security for the counties.

“Erlanger has to strike a deal with HMC, and they have to also strike a deal with the counties, if they want any sort of county backing,” he said.

Walker, Catoosa and Dade counties own the Hutcheson buildings and property and lease it to Hutcheson Medical Center.