OMPW

June

Main Content

Rush Health Systems to Join Ochsner Health

Published on Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Rush Health Systems (Rush) and Ochsner Health (Ochsner) announced the signing of a shared mission agreement for Rush to merge with Ochsner, expected to be finalized in mid-2022.

The agreement, officials said, builds upon the existing strategic partnership agreement between the two health systems announced in 2019.

Working together, Ochsner and Rush hope to expand access to patients in east Mississippi and west Alabama, including high-quality, affordable, and innovative care and more clinical specialties close to home. 

Rush Health Systems will become Ochsner Rush Health when the merger is complete in mid-2022, following regulatory approvals, company officials said. The partnership will be governed by a board comprised of Rush community members, physicians and representatives from Ochsner Health. Rush medical staff will continue to be comprised of employed and independent physicians. All medical staff will retain existing privileges after the effective merger date. Patients may continue to use existing insurance at all facilities.

As part of Ochsner, Rush will be able to grow existing programs and offer new services for the patients it serves across the region. Employees of Rush Health Systems will also see an increase in minimum wage to $12 per hour once the merger is complete in mid-2022, positively impacting more than 400 employees and representing an investment of at least $1.5 million.  

Source: The Neshoba Democrat