CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A Tennessee health care group is one step closer to purchasing Highland Hospital after the Highland’s board of directors unanimously approved Monday to sell its facilities.
If the deal is approved, Meridian Behavioral Health Systems, of Brentwood, Tennessee, would take control over Highland’s companies, including its hospital association, health center and Process Strategies. Highland-Clarksburg Hospital is not included in the deal as it is its own separate entity.
Meridian has facilities in Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma and Indiana.
Highland Hospital Association president and CEO Cynthia Persily said Meridian is the best partner in making a deal as it is experienced in dealing with opioid addiction and treatment.
“Their first behavioral health hospital is in New Orleans, Louisiana,” she said. “We know they’ve had their share in Louisiana in these kinds of issues.”
Persily added any group interested in purchasing the facilities had to have experience in addressing behavioral health care.
“We know that in the behavioral health needs in West Virginia are not only continuing but they are growing, and especially with the opiate crisis, they are continuing to grow,” she said.
Acadia Healthcare almost purchased Highland last year, but the deal was called off in November 2016.
Persily said all of Highland’s 400 employees are expected to keep their jobs.
Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper said in a statement he welcomed Meridian to the region, adding health care needed to be expanded in light of West Virginia’s opioid crisis.
“I’m very pleased that Highland hospital and Meridian Behavioral Health Systems are coming together,” Carper said.
The deal between Highland and Meridian is expected to be finalized by the end of September.