Commissioners doubt El Paso Children’s ability to put forth bankruptcy plan

The county is getting the latest updates on the continuing University Medical Center and El Paso Children’s Hospital dispute and bankruptcy proceedings.

Commissioners and UMC CEO Jim Valenti met behind closed doors for more than an hour Monday, discussing the plan UMC wants to put forth for Children’s bankruptcy, and the next steps.

With just under a month until Children’s exclusive right to put forth a plan expires, commissioners say they aren’t confident the children’s hospital will be able to do so in the time remaining.

“The experience that I’ve had with the Children’s board and the experience we’ve all with them over the last months,” Commissioner David Stout said, “I don’t feel like giving them much credit, but obviously we’ll see what they come up with.”

Children’s has until Sept. 15 to present its own plan for coming out of bankruptcy before UMC would be able to put its version forward.