Lee Health Adopts Community-Focused Nonprofit Model Amid Growing Competition in Southwest Florida Healthcare Landscape

In a bid to remain competitive in Southwest Florida’s evolving healthcare landscape, Lee Health, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit hospital systems, has taken a significant step towards converting to a privately funded nonprofit. On Thursday, the system’s board of directors voted 9-1 in favor of the change.

The new business model will include an oversight board consisting of members from Lee Health’s primary service areas, an attorney, and someone with a financial/business background. By transitioning to a community-focused nonprofit, Lee Health hopes to secure the resources needed to maintain its safety-net mission and ensure exceptional care for residents of Lee County.

Since its establishment in 1968, Lee Health has been owned and operated by the county through its publicly elected board of directors. However, with the repeal of parts of Florida’s Certificate of Need program in 2019, competitors have been able to expand more easily in the growing region, including Collier County. This move allows Lee Health to expand beyond its current boundaries and partner with other medical groups and teaching hospitals while maintaining financial sustainability and independence.

Lee Health has spent the past year assessing the implications of this change and soliciting input from the public through town meetings. The system believes that this transition is necessary for its long-term success and growth as a community-led structure that prioritizes patient care above all else.