WY's 2 largest hospitals seek regional alliance

Wyoming's two largest hospitals, Wyoming Medical Center and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, are moving into intense discussions hopefully leading toward a new holding company that would manage the institutions as well as others that might join in the future. The major concern is that single, stand-alone hospitals will not be able to survive because larger out-of-state institutions will come in and take patients and provide services to Wyoming residents. Wyoming Medical Center President and CEO Vickie Diamond said regardless of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act, hospitals like those in Casper and Cheyenne must be able to control costs while still providing excellent care.