AP Wire

Deadline set by Edwards on reworked hospital deals

by Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press

Gov. John Bel Edwards has given the private operators of the LSU hospitals and clinics until next week to decide if they agree to renegotiated terms of their financing deals with the state.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the LSU Board of Supervisors the "public/private partners" that took over the safety net services LSU previously provided to the poor have until next Thursday to accept the terms offered by the administration.

Dardenne wouldn't provide details about what changes are proposed.

But he's said negotiations are over and the terms offered are final. He told LSU's board Friday that he's hopeful "all the present partners" are going to sign the renegotiated deals.

Dardenne says the contracts enacted by former Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration had terms that were too costly.