Banner Health has announced it plans to buy a community hospital in Pinal County.
The 177-bed, nonprofit Casa Grande Regional Medical Center has struggled under the burden of unpaid health care costs. Banner Health has signed a letter of intent to buy the Casa Grande hospital and said it will provide interim funding to keep the doors open until the deal is finished.
Banner’s acquisition will need to be approved by regulators, but it is expected to happen by the middle of 2014. Banner Health, which manages 23 hospitals and medical facilities, announced the deal this week.