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{{current}}The '''expansion of [[Baptist Health Care Announces Planned Acquisition of ]]''' away from its main [[Baptist Hospital]] campus has been attempted on several occasions, most recently in [[2008]], when the organization announced plans to buy [[West Florida Hospital]]. However, after a major [[Wikipedia:Subprime mortgage crisis|credit crisis]] affected Baptist'''s ability to obtain the necessary financing, the deal was called off at the beginning of [[2009]].

==Background==For years, Baptist Health Care has sought to expand its service away from its main [[Baptist Hospital]] campus, which is located near Pensacola's urban core and provides indigent care for a large number of low-income patients. The hospital averages about 50 percent occupancy at any given time,<ref name="newhospital">"Baptist plans new hospital." ''Commitment Pensacola News Journal'', January 15, 2004.</ref> and Baptist has sought to Northwest Florida transfer some of its allowed acute medical care beds from Baptist Hospital to other branches in more affluent neighborhoods. However, such a transfer is only allowed after following the state's Certificate of Need process, overseen by the Agency for Health Care Administration, which has repeatedly denied requests by Baptist Health Care. Baptist officials have argued that the process is anticompetitive and South Alabama Residents Focuses on Expanded Services overly regulatory, and that the ability to serve more "paying customers" would offset losses and Strengthened Health Care Excellence''increase their financial capacity to provide charity care.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (June 26, 2008) – TodayIn [[2000]], a state legislative amendment that would have benefitted Baptist Health Care signed an asset purchase agreement with Hospital Corporation a specific Certificate of America Need exemption was submitted (HCAand quickly withdrawn) under State Representative [[Durell Peaden]]'s name, though he denied any knowledge of it and claimed "[a] lot of amendments get filed with my name on them … people think if they put my name on them, they'll pass."<ref name="hard2believe">"Editorial: Hard to acquire West Florida Hospital for $245 millionbelieve amendment story. Once regulatory approvals are obtained" ''Pensacola News Journal'', financing is secured and May 17, 2000.</ref> Baptist admitted that their lobbyist authored the purchase is completeamendment, currently anticipated to be by but would not identify the end sponsor. State Representative [[Jerry Maygarden]] was suspected of 2008submitting it, residents as he was a senior Baptist executive and an outspoken critic of Northwest Florida the Certificate of Need process; he insisted, however, "that was not my amendment and surrounding areas will have expanded access to more than 60 Baptist Health Care locations. Baptist Health Care will redefine health care excellence in Northwest Florida, while remaining a locally owned that was not-for-profit health care organizationmy language."<ref name="hard2believe"/>

“This acquisition will enhance On [[May 2]], [[2001]], in the best final days of both organizations the state legislative session, Maygarden quietly arranged an amendment to a massive Medicaid bill with a provision that would allow Escambia and provides for expansion of our services Santa Rosa hospitals to transfer beds to satellite facilities as needed. Officials at other major health care providers came out in opposition to meet the needs of our patients and the communitymeasure,” stated Al Stubblefieldsaying it would benefit only Baptist, President/CEOMaygarden's employer, Baptist as no other organization wanted to transfer beds. "I gave the same authority to [[Sacred Heart Health Care|Sacred Heart]] that I gave to [[West Florida Healthcare|West Florida]] that I gave to Baptist," Maygarden said. “For more than a decade, Baptist Health Care has earned a reputation for providing quality health care with superior customer satisfaction"They all have satellite facilities without beds. By creating a strong… I have steadily told them that what they are doing is protecting market share, service-oriented culture of excellence within our organization and among our employeesI think that's wrong. I've given them all the same options. If they don't want it, Baptist Health Care has spent multiple years in the top one percent in patient satisfaction surveysthat is their choice. We know the acquisition of West Florida Hospital will allow us to continue our high standard of personal care while expanding services to serve the entire Northwest Florida region"<ref>"Maygarden draws flak for hospital legislation.”" ''Pensacola News Journal'', May 9, 2001</ref>

With this acquisitionThe bill passed quickly, Baptist Health Care and West Florida Hospital will become one to bring together the best technology, services and expertise for superior quality health care for patients and familiesMaygarden's amendment survived Governor [[Wikipedia:Jeb Bush|Jeb Bush]]'s line-item vetoes. After a coalition of Baptist Health Care’s main campus will continue to operate as a vital's competitors filed suit, the law was declared unconstitutional by Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Davey, full service outpatient facility offering walk-who wrote in urgent care serviceshis ruling, diagnostic and imaging services"[t]he statute does not pertain to a matter of statewide importance, ambulatory services, physician offices and corporate management officesnor can the statute reasonably be construed to be a demonstration project. The combined inpatient psychiatric services currently at "<ref>"Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospitals will beds won't be housed at the Baptist Behavioral Medicine Hospitalmoving around." ''Pensacola News Journal'', December 20, 2001.</ref>

Once the purchase is completeIn [[2004]], the current West Florida Hospital on Davis Highway will become the new Baptist Hospital, and together with announced plans to build a $60 million hospital adjacent to its [[Baptist Medical Park – 9 - Nine Mile]] facility, will give which would house 96 beds transferred from the main Baptist Health Care a major presence in north PensacolaHospital campus. The campus will feature comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care plus world-class services such as an expanded Baptist Cancer Center in affiliation transfer would have been the result of a coalition with about a dozen other Florida hospitals who wanted legislative exemption from the Moffitt Cancer Institute; Baptist Neurosciences Center complemented requisite Certificate of Need process.<ref name="newhospital"/> The plans were again opposed by the other area health care providers — especially [[West Florida Healthcare]], whose [[West Florida Hospital]] averaged only 33 percent occupancy and would have been less than a rehab mile from the new hospital for neurologic and orthopaedic conditions; Baptist Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence; and an expanded Emergency Department. <ref>"Hospitals at odds." ''Pensacola News Journal'', February 8, 2004.</ref> The new Baptist Hospital also will offer [[Santa Rosa County Commission]] considered opposing the legislation on behalf of [[Santa Rosa Medical Center]], which would have been impacted by a new parking garage and new physician office buildingshospital nearby, but ultimately did not take action.

AdditionallyThe legislation was withdrawn. However, Baptist Health Care will assume in the current West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practicessame year, which will increase access and outreach Baptist successfully lobbied to the community. The addition of West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices exempt Escambia County (nine neighborhood medical centersamong five others) from a "grow in place" bill that would have benefitted competitors like [[Sacred Heart Health System|Sacred Heart]] by allowing them to Baptist Health Care affiliated and employed physicians will expand at existing facilities without state permission.<ref>"Bill keeps Baptist Health Care primary care locations throughout the communityHospital competitors at current size." ''Pensacola News Journal'', March 26, creating the largest and most convenient primary care network in the region2004.</ref>

This opportunity ensures that In [[2006]], Baptist Health Care was said to be in talks with [[West Florida Healthcare]] about collaborating to improve their services and reduce costs. According to West Florida president and CEO [[Dennis Taylor]], "We're trying to find ways to work together. If we can continue find ways to meet work together, it saves the growing health care needs community a tremendous amount of the poor and uninsured—a hallmark of Baptist Health Care’s missionresources."<ref>"Hospital officials mulling alliance." ''Pensacola News Journal'', July 12, 2006. This expansion provides opportunities for new </ref> These discussions were never formalized and enhanced health care serviceswere called off weeks later, based on as West Florida's parent company HCA was in the needs midst of our patients and the community. Baptist is forming a Campus Redevelopment Council to help determine future development pending $33 billion buyout by a group of the main campusprivate investors.<ref>"Hospital alliance talks off." ''Pensacola News Journal'', August 5, 2006.</ref>

“This acquisition will allow ==2008 plans==On [[June 26]], [[2008]], Baptist Health Care to continue to be at officials announced a major expansion project that included the forefront purchase of health care excellence in Northwest [[West Florida. With the help of our outstanding doctors Hospital]] for $245 million and staff, we are revolutionizing health care approximately $85 million in Pensacolanew construction. The expansion was intended to be completed within a few months,” stated Stubblefieldwith an agreed upon deadline of [[December 31]].

For more information about this exciting anticipated {{cquote|This acquisition will enhance the best of both organizations and provides for expansion, please browse of our services to meet the needs of our patients and the community. … We know the acquisition of West Florida Hospital will allow us to continue our high standard of personal care while expanding services to serve the entire Northwest Florida region.|20px|20px|[[www.BHCexpansion.orgAl Stubblefield]] or call (850) 434-4080., President/CEO of Baptist Health Care}}

The organization signed an asset purchase agreement with West Florida's parent company, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), after which the necessary regulatory approval was obtained. However, the frozen credit markets related to the [[Wikipedia:Subprime mortgage crisis|subprime mortgage crisis]] and [[Late 2000s recession|recession]] prevented Baptist from obtaining the financing necessary to close the deal. According to a financial expert quoted by the ''[[Pensacola News Journal]]'', "Baptist is pretty well leveraged. They have a substantial debt load, a lot of which comes from their financing the [[Andrews Institute]]."<ref name="dealoff">"Hospital deal off." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 1, 2009.</ref> As late as October 2008, Baptist CEO [[Al Stubblefield]] remained confident that the expansion would move forward and that Baptist was "well positioned to go to the bond markets by the end of this calendar year."<ref name="dealoff"/> However, as the deadline passed with no bonds issued, the expansion will likely not take place. Had the purchase been completed, the current West Florida Hospital on [[Davis Highway]] would have become the new [[Baptist Hospital]], supplementing the presence of [[Baptist Medical Park - Nine Mile]] in north Pensacola. The campus would have featured an expanded [[Baptist Cancer Center]] in affiliation with the Moffitt Cancer Institute; [[Baptist Neurosciences Center]] complemented by a rehab hospital for neurologic and orthopaedic conditions; [[Baptist Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence]]; and an expanded Emergency Department. The new Baptist Hospital would have also offered a new parking garage and new physician office buildings. Additionally, Baptist Health Care would have assumed the current [[West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices]] (nine neighborhood medical centers), creating the largest primary care network in the region. Because of the merger collapse, Baptist lost an estimated $8 million in forfeited earnest money.<ref>"Cost of merger collapse: $8 million." ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 4, 2008.</ref> ==External links& references==*[http://www.bhcexpansion.org/ www.bhcexpansion.org] &ndash; Informational website about the 2008 expansion{{reflist}}