New Orleans has made an unspecified offer in another attempt to buy the hurricane-damaged Methodist Hospital in the eastern part of the city. The purchase would be financed from a $411 million pool of federal recovery money dedicated to projects in New Orleans.
In 2006, the city offered to buy the hospital and two other facilities from Universal Health Services for $30 million, but the bid was rejected. The company said the original bid was below market prices but that it would consider another offer.
The hospital was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has never reopened.
Louisiana Sen. Ann Duplessis, D-New Orleans, whose district includes the area served by Methodist, said the state would provide funds to renovate the facility if the city bought it. It would be operated by a private entity.
