HCA confirms 'preliminary' talks with East Jefferson General Hospital

Hospital Corp. of America confirmed Tuesday it is in discussions with East Jefferson General Hospital but offered no details on the nature of the talks. Its statement came 10 months after it withdrew from the public competition to lease East Jefferson General and West Jefferson Medical Center. Jefferson Parish Councilman Ben Zahn said East Jefferson is talking with a private hospital management organization but would not name the operator. Zahn said the discussions center on a long-term lease deal, similar in structure to the type of offer that Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA withdrew in February. Zahn said that could change, however.