Affiliation Holds Future Benefit for Hospital, Employees, Medical Staff, and Communities

Batesville, MS September 29, 2016 – Merit Health Batesville announced today it will soon become affiliated with Curae Health through an acquisition agreement that includes the sale of the hospital and its associated assets. Three additional hospitals are being sold as part of the agreement – Merit Health Gilmore Memorial in Amory, Merit Health Northwest Mississippi in Clarksdale, and Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring, FL.

Curae Health is a not for profit health system formed to address the needs of rural healthcare. The organization’s primary goals are to own and operate community hospitals, provide high quality care to the communities they serve, and seek strategic affiliations as necessary to ensure the hospitals’ success. Curae Health currently owns three hospitals in Northwest Alabama and is based in Clinton, Tennessee.

The purchase agreement includes a commitment from Curae Health to offer employment to all active employees in good standing when the transaction is complete. Privileges will continue for all physicians in good standing on the medical staffs.

The hospitals are viable, valuable community assets with long-standing traditions of providing quality health services for patients. As hospitals operating in more rural settings, they will benefit from alignment with Curae Health which specializes in operating small to medium sized sole community providers.

“Our hospital plays an important role in serving the medical needs of our patients,” said Travis Sisson, chief executive officer of Merit Health Batesville. “Leaders of Curae Health are experienced in working with physicians to operate and strengthen hospitals in rural communities and they will help us sustain and grow our position as a vital part of Panola County.”

“Curae Health was founded to strengthen rural hospitals and improve the healthcare available in rural communities,” said Stephen Clapp, chief executive officer of Curae Health. “We look forward to building our organization with the addition of these four hospitals. Together, we have great opportunities to improve in care and service.”

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Until the transaction is complete, current ownership remains in place.

About Merit Health Batesville – Merit Health Batesville is a 112-bed acute care hospital located in Batesville, Mississippi. The hospital offers quality health care services in emergency care, behavioral health, surgery, radiology, labor and delivery, cardiopulmonary services, physical therapy, cardiac rehab, pharmacy and primary care. Other services include pediatrics, sleep, adult medicine and women’s health clinics. Merit Health Batesville is owned, in part, by physicians.