LINCOLN — The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will move one step closer Thursday to becoming the sole owner of Nebraska Medicine while considering whether to increase tuition as part of NU’s next annual budget.
The regents will consider two related agenda items that would effectively reduce the $500 million needed to proceed with sole Nebraska Medicine membership to $300 million. Nebraska Medicine is the hospital, clinical and medical services partner to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Rather than paying the full sum to Clarkson Regional Health Services for its 50% stake in the nonprofit, the other $200 million would serve as an “in-kind donation” back to NU.
Regents and Clarkson had originally agreed that, as part of the deal, Clarkson would donate $200 million back to NU, earmarked for the $2.19 billion “Project Health,” a longstanding NU endeavor to build up the future of health care and train the next generation of professionals.
NU will still be on the hook for the full $500 million because of the earmark. NU has also agreed to pay Clarkson another $300 million to purchase related properties…