Tenor Health Foundation

On the frigid first morning of February, Jessup’s forecasting ferret drew a crowd of hundreds for a morning of tomfoolery, marking a new tradition in the Lackawanna County borough. But Jessup Giuseppe and Punxsutawney Phil ended up at odds about the forecast.

Just days after receiving state approval, Tenor Health Foundation and Commonwealth Health closed a deal selling Tenor three Northeast Pennsylvania hospitals, both companies announced Monday morning.

Tenor Health Foundation and Community Health Systems, operating locally as Commonwealth Health, closed a deal for Wilkes-Barre General and Scranton’s Regional and Moses Taylor Hospitals on Sunday, the companies announced Monday morning. A CHS release valued the deal at $33 million cash plus a $15 million promissory note from Tenor, with additional payments possible from patient account collections.

Years of uncertainty about the future of Commonwealth Health-owned Wilkes-Barre General, Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton have taken their toll on anxious employees, but a pending sale to Tenor Health Foundation has staff and community leaders cautiously optimistic about the next steps.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health has approved the sale of three hospitals in the region. Tenor Health Foundation will now own two hospitals in Scranton, Moses Taylor and Regional Hospital, plus Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. The three are currently owned by Commonwealth Health.

Pennsylvania Health Department officials have given their blessing to Tenor Health Foundation's application to acquire three Northeast Pennsylvania hospitals, multiple sources said Wednesday.

Tenor Health Foundation’s CEO confirmed that the company is ready to own and operate three Commonwealth Health-owned hospitals in the region. But that’s all pending approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Tenor Health Foundation’s CEO said the company is ready to own and operate the Commonwealth Health Systems hospitals in NEPA, but that the transaction still awaits approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

Local foundations that had financially stepped up to keep Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton open ended payments in August, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said Friday. Closure of the hospitals was 'imminent,' the lawmaker said, but he and partners including state Rep. Bridget Kosierowski worked to keep the doors open. The foundations replied that the arrangement was for 90 days only, and there was no request for additional funding at that time.

Officials expected the sale of Commonwealth Health Systems- owned Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Regional Hospital of Scranton and Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton to Tenor Health Foundation to be finalized by the end of 2025. Both health systems said they are waiting for the Pa. Department of Health's approval before they can proceed with the sale.