Audrain County leaders on board with Boone Health seeking partnership
Keriana Gamboa
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Audrain County leaders said Wednesday that they back an effort by Boone Health to find a “strategic partner” to help grow its operation.
The Audrain County Commission, County Health Department and Boone Health signed a letter of intent in October 2024 to begin building a Medicare-certified critical access hospital in Mexico.
Audrain County Commissioner Alan Winders said the county fully supports Boone Health’s efforts to find a partner, noting it could bring expanded resources to them.
“Our goal is an E.R. and hospital here in Audrain County,” Winders said. “We commend the leadership. We are encouraged by the efforts, and we’re in full support of those efforts.”
Boone Health announced Monday that it’s actively seeking a strategic partner to help expand its services and reach across Central Missouri — but leaders say it’s not because the health system is in financial trouble.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Jerry Kennett said Wednesday that selling the health system is at the bottom of the list of options and remains an unlikely outcome.
“We think that by growing with this strategic partner, we can provide additional services, expand our emergency room, and build stronger relationships with the communities in central Missouri at a much faster rate,” Kennett said.
Kennett said that Boone Health’s day-to-day operations remain financially stable, and the push for a partner is about accelerating long-term growth.
Dr. Kennett says Boone Health is considering more than 15 potential entities, including MU Health Care.
While the full process could take up to a year, Kennett said he hopes to have a list of interested health systems by August or September.
Kennett also said that if Boone Health doesn’t find a partner that aligns with its goals and expectations, the organization will continue to grow independently, though at a slower pace.
In April, ABC 17 News reported that Boone Health was working its way out of operational debt. Financial records obtained by the station revealed a nearly $30 million operational loss in 2024. However, that figure marked a $7.7 million improvement over 2023.
Early data from 2025 suggests a continued upward trend. Boone Health reported positive financial results for the first two months of the year, signaling a potentially significant turnaround.
Boone Health has operated as an independent health system since ending its partnership with BJC HealthCare in 2021. The county government owns the hospital.