Tenor Health Foundation plans to manage three local hospitals, but the final obstacle is obtaining state approval. This development comes after Tenor’s leader expressed readiness to finalize the acquisition.
“We stand ready to conclude the transaction and to successfully operate Wilkes-Barre General, Moses Taylor and Scranton Regional hospitals, however we await Department of Health approval,” stated Tenor CEO Radha Savitala. “We are hopeful the approval is forthcoming within days.”
In October, Tenor and Commonwealth Health Systems (CHS) signed a purchase agreement for the hospitals in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, targeting a year-end completion if funding was secured.
Savitala informed WVIA News that the application for approval was submitted to the state Department of Health on November 6, 2025, with a request for an expedited review.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed the review is ongoing but did not specify a completion date. “The Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to review the change-in-ownership application submitted by the Tenor Health Foundation regarding its interest in purchasing the hospitals currently owned by Commonwealth Health Systems. The process is ongoing,” the department communicated to WVIA News.
Legislators closely follow hospital acquisition
State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski (D-Lackawanna) shared insights from her frequent interactions with the Department of Health. “I know they are laser-focused on it. They’ve got all hands on deck. The Department of Health is well aware of how important this decision is for the community and the workforce and the patients. So the delay isn’t really a delay. It’s more about, okay, we’ve gotten through this part A, part B, part C, but we need a little bit more information,” Kosierowski explained.
She emphasized the need for a meticulous review: “They have to do a thorough process, and I’m being very patient and letting them do their work, because this is an important thing to approve,” she continued. “It’s an important thing to approve a reasonable deliverer of care when it comes to a hospital. They have to do their due diligence, and we have to be patient.”
Kosierowski anticipates a decision by the month’s end. U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Luzerne) echoed the need for swift approval. “My team and I have been working to find a solution for the hospitals since the beginning, and we will continue to do so until we cross the finish line,” he said. “I implore the governor and his administration to do what is best for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania and ensure a continuity of care. Regional, Moses Taylor, and Wilkes-Barre General play a key role in our region’s healthcare and are a strong backbone of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s workforce.”
Kosierowski expressed gratitude for community support throughout the sale process, including efforts by local foundations that provided financial assistance to the struggling hospitals after an original deal fell through, as well as Bresnahan’s involvement.
“As a whole, we’ve been kind of working across party lines on this,” Kosierowski noted.
