The Arizona Board of Regents has unanimously approved a merger involving the University of Arizona's health network and Banner Health. The deal is expected to close at the end of February.
Regent Mark Killian said work begins right away.
“As a part of this agreement they are going to build a $500 million hospital down here in Tucson to replace the old hospital," Killian said. "They will allow our medical students to work in their system hospitals to get their training."
The University of Arizona network includes hospitals and clinics in Tucson and the Phoenix area.
Banner will assume some of the university network's debt.
Killian said the Board of Regents and UA medical school will continue to have some oversight of the Banner partnership.