U of L Pres. asked to attend meeting on hospital merger

Three Kentucky lawmakers want University of Louisville President James Ramsey to appear before a legislative committee to explain how University Hospital's impending merger with a Catholic healthcare provider will affect reproductive and end-of-life patient care. But whether Ramsey will attend remains a question, with a U of L spokesman saying that other university officials may go instead. "The subject matter will dictate who will attend from the various entities involved in the merger," Hebert said in an email, adding: "U of L has always cooperated with the legislature in the past, and we will continue to do so." Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville, sent an email request to Ramsey Friday, asking him to attend an Aug. 17 meeting in Frankfort of the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare, which he co-chairs, to discuss "the implications of the merger … for the provision of reproductive services."