Attorney General's News Release

March 25, 1997

Nixon to take public comments on proposed acquisition of Deaconess-Incarnate Word Health System by Tenet

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon will hold a hearing in St. Louis on Monday, April 14 to take public comments on the proposed acquisition of Deaconess-Incarnate Word Health System, a not-for-profit public benefit corporation, by for-profit Tenet HealthSystems of California.

Deaconess-Incarnate Word Health System operates three hospitals in the St. Louis area: Deaconess Hospital, Deaconess Hospital-West and Incarnate Word Hospital. The system is sponsored by the Deaconess Foundation, based in St. Louis, and by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, based in Austin, Texas.

"The Attorney General acts as the steward for not-for-profit assets in Missouri, and these hospitals are owned for the benefit of the community," Nixon said. "Input from interested parties will help us determine if the decision to sell has been made in an unbiased manner, if the price is fair, and if the proceeds from the sale will be used in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of the Deaconess Foundation and the Sisters of Charity."

Nixon said his office is currently challenging the conversion of assets from not-for-profit to for-profit in another case involving Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Missouri.

The public hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 14, in the Governor's Conference Room, located on the 9th floor of the Wainwright State Office Building, 111 N. Seventh St., St. Louis.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818