United Medical Center seeks $15M from D.C. government

United Medical Center is requesting an additional $15 million from D.C. taxpayers to help finance a turnaround, likely renewing debate about whether the city should own a cash-starved hospital. After its previous owners defaulted on its obligations to the city, the District took over the Ward 8 hospital in December 2010 until a new operator could be found. But the city government is divided over whether the city should try to quickly unload the hospital to a private buyer or keep it to try to bolster its quality—and its price tag.