Health system sells hospital

LEHIGH ACRES — Tennessee-based Community Health Systems plans to sell Lehigh Regional Medical Center in Lee County later this year to California-based Prime Healthcare Services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Prime Healthcare operates 35 acute-care hospitals in 11 states and Lehigh Regional will be its first in Florida. “Prime Healthcare looks forward to expanding its network to Florida in an effort to continue saving hospitals, jobs and lives,” says Prem Reddy, chairman, president and CEO of Prime Healthcare, in a statement.

Lehigh Regional has 88 beds and was once part of Naples-based Health Management Associates. Community Health Systems acquired HMA and its 71 hospitals in January 2014 for $7.6 billion.

The deal to sell Lehigh Regional is scheduled to be completed later this year and it includes related outpatient services. Following the sale, Community Health will continue to operate 25 hospitals in Florida.