Boone Health is looking for a partner to begin medical services in Mexico.

The Audrain County Healthcare Government Committee, consisting of representatives from the Audrain County Commission, the city of Mexico and the Audrain County Health Department, announced July 9 that they express their full support for Boone Health’s announcement to pursue a strategic partnership with another health system. 

This “forward-looking initiative” is aimed at enhancing and expediting healthcare services in mid-Missouri, including the development of a critical access hospital in Mexico, according to a news release from ACHD and Boone Health. 

Christian Basi, director of marketing and communications with Boone Health, said in an email that Boone expects the complete process to “last about a year (give or take a month or two)” to find a partner.

“We’re hoping to have a finalist partner identified by early 2026 with any final agreement complete by Fall 2026,” he said.

He said Boone is looking at health systems that are located throughout the U.S., including Missouri. As far as the impact of the new domestic spending and tax cuts bill approved by lawmakers in Washington, specifically the funding cuts that would occur to Medicaid, Basi said it’s “too soon to know” the exact impact. 

“We were waiting on the passage of the bill to ensure everything was compliant with our efforts in Audrain,” he said. “We continue to remain committed to Audrain County in working toward the creation of an Acute Care Hospital in Mexico.”

In a Boone Health release, Brady Dubois, Boone Health president and CEO, said Boone Health is dedicated to mid-Missouri. 

“Our people – patients, employees, medical staff and volunteers – are the center of everything we do,” Dubois said in the release. “Finding the right strategic partner will allow us to grow in key medical areas while also ensuring that the quality of Boone Health, which has been nationally recognized, only continues to get better.”

In the release, Dubois cited some important factors:

• Boone Health is enjoying its strongest financial performance since going independent more than four years ago.
• Hiring for medical providers and other key areas at the hospital continues. In the past 18 months, Boone Health has hired dozens of medical providers and expects to add 25 more to the organization within the year.
• Quality, care and the Boone Health culture will not be sacrificed. Boone Health executives will search for the right partner, one that recognizes the value that Boone Health brings to mid-Missouri and understands the culture that has led to Boone Health being named as one of the best hospitals for medical care as well as the best environment for employees.

Jerry Kennett, chair of the Boone Health Board of Trustees, said in the release there has been a “significant amount of thought and discussion, and we strongly believe this is the right path for Boone Health and mid-Missouri. Additionally, the current dynamics within the health care market indicate this is a good time to take this type of action. However, if we are unable to find the right partner to fit with Boone Health, we have every confidence in the current leadership team and know that Boone Health will continue to be there for mid-Missourians as it has been for the last 104 years.”

Audrain County Presiding Commissioner Alan Winders said the Audrain County Healthcare Government Committee “fully supports Boone Health’s proactive action” to secure a strategic partner that will enable Boone to grow in key medical service areas. 

“We are encouraged that such a partnership could potentially expedite the establishment of a new Critical Access Hospital in Mexico and provide vital hospital-based care to our residents sooner than previously projected,” he said in the ACHD/Boone release. 

In an interview with the Ledger, Winders said officials are working hard to get hospital services here as soon as possible. Mexico has not had a hospital since 2022.

“It doesn’t seem like any of these things should take this long, but when you’re talking about tens of millions of dollars and long, long, long-term investments, things take time,” he said.

Others lauded Boone for its move.

“We commend Boone’s leadership for taking this step and are grateful that building a Critical Access Hospital in Mexico continues to be a key part of Boone’s strategic vision,” said Bruce Slagle, Mexico city manager, in the ACHD/Boone release. 

“Strategic Partnerships between visionary healthcare organizations is not uncommon in today’s healthcare landscape,” said Craig Brace, CEO and administrator of the Audrain County Health Department, in the ACHD/Boone release. “These types of partnerships bring more financial capital to broaden the scope of care and long-term healthcare investments for the communities they serve.” 

Preparations for a new hospital are in the works.

“In preparation for the future hospital site, the Government Committee continues to move forward with demolition plans of the old hospital site, ensuring the community is ready for construction when the time comes,” Slagle said in the ACHD/Boone release. 

“We’re not taking a break and sitting on our hands for a while - that’s not what we’re doing,” Winders told the Ledger.

Government Committee members said they are optimistic that Boone’s pursuit of a strategic partner could potentially accelerate the return of hospital services to Audrain County, as well as bring increased resources, expertise and healthcare capabilities to benefit residents of Mexico and surrounding communities for years to come, the release stated. 

“This is a very positive step forward for Audrain County,” Dubois in the release. “Boone Health remains committed to the people of Audrain County and fully supports this next phase in our efforts to restore high-quality, accessible healthcare to Mexico and surrounding communities. Opening a Critical Access Hospital in Mexico is a top strategic priority. We remain excited about the future of healthcare in Audrain County and working diligently in our pursuit of the establishment of a hospital in Mexico.”