El Paso Children’s Hospital responds to UMC’s final offer

Sept. 25 Morning Update: El Paso County Commissioner David Stout told ABC-7 this morning that El Paso Children’s Hospital did respond to University Medical Center’s final offer by today’s 10 a.m. deadline.

The response is now being reviewed by UMC attorneys.

County Judge Veronica Escobar confirmed to ABC-7 that Children’s responded with another counter offer to UMC. Escobar said it is optimistic enough to look over this weekend and discuss Monday at a special Commissioners Court meeting.

Commissioners Court posted an agenda for Monday’s special meeting and it includes discussing Children’s bankruptcy.

Sept. 24 Story: The El Paso Children’s Hospital has until 10 am Friday to respond to University Medical Center’s final offer to help save the struggling hospital outside of bankruptcy court.

“We really are going above and beyond trying to find common ground in order to help them (Children’s) seek a strategic partner. We’re trying to help save it (the hospital). That’s the whole point of the work.” said County Judge Veronica Escobar in an interview on Thursday after Commissioners and UMC sent Children’s the offer.

The terms of the offer are confidential but Escobar said the negotiations hinged on one issue. She added UMC had met Children’s concessions “more than halfway.”

If Children’s were to accept this offer from UMC, it would pause its lawsuit against UMC and look for a partner to infuse money into the cash strapped hospital. UMC would simultaneously work with Children’s on a backup plan in case Children’s couldn’t solidify a deal with another partner.

“We would love Children’s to remain independent. In fact we have done everything possible both the county and UMC to support them. We would love to give them the tools and the ability to keep them independent from UMC. We’d rather not have them under the UMC wing,” said Escobar.

She added UMC would only want to take over Children’s if it meant that was the only option to keep the hospital open.

If Children’s rejects this last deal, then UMC will fight in court to submit it’s own plan to save Children’s. Escobar said in court, the odds are against Children’s.

“The facts are the facts. Conspiracy theories in a federal courtroom mean nothing. It comes down to the facts,” Escobar said. “What is true and what is not true is the only thing that matters.”

County officials have said Children’s was more accessible this time around.

“This is the closest we’ve been since all of this started. It showed a definite change in the way they’re negotiating,” said Commissioner David Stout.

Children’s CEO Mark Herbers sent out a statement saying they were confident Children’s response would be met with approval from UMC.