Williamson Medical Center West Tower

Williamson Medical Center West Tower 

 Photo: Williamson Medical Center

A bill that would give Williamson County more flexibility in a potential sale of Williamson Health is making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly, having passed the Senate this week.  

Senate Bill 2194, sponsored by two Franklin Republicans: Sen. Jack Johnson and Rep. Jake McCalmon, would allow for an exemption for hospitals worth more than $500 million to put some of its profits from a sale toward non-health-related initiatives. Under current state law, the proceeds from the sale of a government-owned public benefit hospital are required to go in a trust where the funds are earmarked for public health initiatives. 

Williamson Health is seemingly the only hospital this bill would apply to.  

“If we have a hospital in the state that renders a significant number of proceeds, then we think the local government should — by a two-thirds majority vote — be able to contemplate use of those proceeds in other purposes in addition to the health care trust fund,” Johnson said on the Senate floor on Monday.   

Williamson Health announced during a July Williamson County Commission meeting that it was considering a sale, citing staffing shortages, an increase in operating costs and inadequate reimbursements from insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid, among other concerns. 

The health care system rebranded from Williamson Medical Center in 2023 and recently opened an additional primary care clinic in Cool Springs. It employs 2,300 individuals across more than 30 locations and more than 860 physicians.  

A Williamson Health spokesperson told the Williamson Scene that the Williamson Health Board of Trustees is exploring remaining an independent hospital in addition to selling the system.  

“No decisions have been made at this time, and the Board’s top priority remains to ensure Williamson Health continues to lead the way — strengthening its culture, clinical excellence and service to the community for generations to come,” a Williamson Health spokesperson sent in a statement. “Legislative discussions regarding the proceeds from a potential sale of Williamson Health are taking place at the request of the Williamson County Board of Commissioners, not the health system.”