Scott County's only hospital closes

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ONEIDA, Tenn. (AP) - Scott County's only hospital has closed after county officials turned down a 60-day lease extension with Health Management Associates, the company that ran the county-owned facility.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports (http://bit.ly/MIdMQm) that after failing to find a partner to run the hospital, county officials earlier this month said the only way to keep the hospital open was increase property taxes.

Residents protested the tax hike.

The county has a median household income of less than $29,000 and the highest unemployment rate in the state.

Dr. Larry Wolfe, a primary-care physician at a nearby Mountain Peoples Health Council clinic, said the county should sell the building to a company that operates hospitals and get out of the business.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Scott County's only hospital closes - WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Scott County's only hospital closes

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