After over eight months of negotiations, U of L Hospital and University Medical Center will enter into a joint agreement with KentuckyOne Health on March 1, 2013.KentuckyOne Health -- which is under directives of Catholic Health Initiatives -- will maintain the day-to-day operations but U of L Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center will remain independent in its oversight and health directives, which was a major criticism during last year's merger talks.On Wednesday, officials said there were two competitive bidders, the other being Health Management Associates out of Naples, Fla. But, they say KentuckyOne Health was more aligned with UMC's mission and goals.Attorney General Jack Conway, who last year provided Gov. Steve Beshear his recommendations that U of L not merge with KentuckyOne Health, said the new joint agreement addresses issues that previously concerned him.“It also maintains state control of the hospital. It does not transfer a state asset. It protects women’s health. It maintains all current services and it ensures the hospital’s ability to help care for our community’s indigent," he said.Under the 20-year $1.4 billion agreement, all services will be maintained at the respective facilities, but none of the Catholic health directives under CHI will be put on any of the University's facilities. In return, KentuckyOne Health will have access to UMC and U of L to help develop its healthcare system.In the first few years over half-a-billion dollars will invest in academic programs, technology improvements and other services:o $75 million annually for academic and program investments and another $95 million over the first three years for key service lines and departments; o $70 million for critically needed IT infrastructure upgrades at UMC; o $15 million for discretionary spending by UofL for each of the first three years, targeted on statewide health efforts; and o $3 million will be dedicated for research annually and $7.5 million per year in capital investment for technology. University officials say a study provided during the bidding process shows the return on investment looks very good in the first four years. Update: Honi Goldman, a critic of the UofL Hospital merger plan from last year, issued this statement: "This UL 'partnership' is the old proverb of 'once a camel gets his nose in the tent, his body will soon follow.' So beware of the 'Kentucky One's' nose." Update: Current University Medical Center policies for women's health and end-of-life care will remain unchanged, officials said. The joint agreement will lead to a $543 million investment to UMC in the first five years, then $1.4 billion over 20 years, officials said. Earlier: The University of Louisville Hospital announced Wednesday a partnership plan with KentuckyOne Health -- the same group it attempted to merge with last year. From the announcement:
