Lee County strikes deal for hospital

The Lee County Hospital Authority announced in a news release Tuesday evening that it has entered into an agreement with a Florida company to reopen the shuttered hospital.

Authority Vice Chairman Ronnie Montgomery said the authority members approved a letter of intent with Americore Health LLC, a company described in the release as focused on managing, investing and acquiring rural hospitals.

Wellmont Health System closed Lee County’s hospital in September 2013 with little notice. Lee County then formed a hospital authority with the intent to quickly reopen the hospital.