Agreement reached on hospital funding plan

County, state deal would take effect in July 2010

Both governments have agreed to the figures, according to a statement by Gov. Martin O’Malley’s office. Government officials will hammer out the details on how to use the money in the next 30 days.

The Prince George’s hospital system, which serves about 180,000 patients annually, has struggled financially for the past decade in large part because of a high number of uninsured patients.

County and state officials this spring agreed to appoint a seven-member authority charged with attracting private owners to purchase the system. The group began meeting this month but has been waiting on the funding package before it can solicit offers.

Officials refused to discuss the negotiations further, saying they still have work to do over the next month.

‘‘Until it’s concluded, it’s not appropriate to talk about,” said James Keary, spokesman for County Executive Jack B. Johnson.

The deal would take effect in July 2010 if a purchaser is found by the end of this year.

Del. Doyle L. Niemann (D-Dist. 47) of Mount Rainier, a longtime advocate for the hospital, said the amount could entice a prospective bidder.

‘‘All of this is already pledged money that [a buyer] doesn’t have to come up with,” said Niemann, who said the package could help a company turn the system into ‘‘a profitable, self-sustaining” system.

Past studies have pegged the cost of paying down debts and upgrading the aging centers from $250 and $300 million. A new buyer would still need to pay a significant amount to turn the system around.

‘‘But this would pay about half that,” Niemann said. ‘‘It’s more than anyone else was willing to pay before.”

Kenneth Glover, chairman of the new Hospital Authority, could not be reached for comment by press time. The authority is scheduled to meet July 31 in Laurel, and the group has to present a deal to the General Assembly for approval by January.

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.