Jefferson Parish may lease West Jefferson Medical Center to private operator

After months of tense negotiations, Jefferson Parish officials have secured approval from the state Attorney General's Office for an almost $600 million deal to lease the parish-owned West Jefferson Medical Center to a private operator. The AG's Office gave its blessing to the transaction in a letter sent Tuesday to Deputy Parish Attorney Ed Rapier. The office had spent months reviewing whether the terms of the deal with LCMC Health are fair and will still allow parish residents access to affordable health care. Getting the AG's approval for the deal was the last hurdle the parties had to clear before they could close out the transaction by exchanging signed copies of the transfer documents with each other.