The Erlanger hospital campus is shown from South Crest Drive.NASHVILLE – Hamilton County lawmakers say they are delaying a bill modernizing Erlanger Health Systems’ governance structure after consulting with officials from the public hospital.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Mike Carter, R-Ooltewah, delayed the bill in the House Health Committee.
“During our discussions with Erlanger over the past several weeks, we came to a mutual agreement that the focus now needs to be on the financial health of the hospital,” said House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, in a news release. “Erlanger serves a critical health care role in our region and maintaining that service is the first priority.”
McCormick said the need to modify the 1976 Hospital Authority Act and the possibility of creating an operating board is secondary to curing Erlanger’s financial ills.
He said local lawmakers “are working with Erlanger to help resolve some of the funding needs,” he said.