New Nebraska Medicine Partner
NU Regents to Consider Omaha Community Foundation as Temporary Nebraska Medicine Partner
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The University of Nebraska Board of Regents will vote Monday on a deal to bring the Omaha Community Foundation into Nebraska Medicine's governance structure, replacing outgoing partner Clarkson Regional Health Services. The move caps a turbulent two-year transition — one that included an $800 million buyout, a lawsuit, and accusations of a "state takeover" of Nebraska's largest health system. Journal Star reported the new agreements would establish a temporary structure before a July 1 transition deadline.
Nebraska Medicine runs two hospital campuses with 809 licensed beds, employs more than 10,000 people, and generates $7.9 billion in annual economic activity for the state. Getting the governance right is not a small matter.
How a 25-Year Partnership Fell Apart
Nebraska Medicine was born in 1997 as a 50-50 partnership between the NU Board of Regents and Bishop Clarkson Memorial Hospital. That split was intentional. It kept the hospital classified as a private nonprofit — not a state agency — which meant employees stayed off the state payroll and the system kept its own budget. For 25 years, the arrangement held.
Then in July 2024, Clarkson Regional Health Services told the University it wanted out. Clarkson CEO Dr. Bill Lydiatt said the exit would let the organization return to its roots as a philanthropic grantor rather than a hospital operator, York News-Times reported. The University's initial response — buying Clarkson's 50% stake outright for $800 million — set off an immediate crisis.
Lawsuit, Board Purge, and the "State Takeover" Fight
Nebraska Medicine's own board fought back hard. On January 14, 2026, it filed a lawsuit to block the buyout, arguing the deal was negotiated without its input. Former board chair Lance Fritz called it a "state takeover" that was "totally unnecessary and is not in the best interest of our patients." The board feared the University would tap clinical cash reserves to cover academic budget gaps.
The University and Clarkson moved fast to end the standoff. On January 22, 2026, they "reconstituted" the Nebraska Medicine board — replacing dissenting members with University and Clarkson leadership. The lawsuit collapsed. State senators, meanwhile, were watching the $800 million price tag closely during a period of university budget cuts, Star Herald noted.
Why the Omaha Community Foundation Gets the Empty Seat
With Clarkson exiting, the University needed a non-state partner fast. Going it alone would have turned Nebraska Medicine into a de facto state agency. Enter the Omaha Community Foundation. On June 18, 2026, the Board of Regents passed a resolution of intent to bring OCF into the governance structure. OCF president Donna Kush said her organization would help preserve the system's "proven infrastructure."
NU President Jeffrey Gold called OCF's willingness to step in a key moment. "We are very grateful to the Omaha Community Foundation for its willingness to partner with us during the months ahead and hopefully thereafter," Gold said, according to Columbus Telegram. Regent Tim Clare called Monday's vote "the biggest decision that I have made in my entire 18-year career."
What the $800 Million Deal Means Going Forward
The full buyout breaks down as $500 million for Clarkson's 50% membership stake and $300 million for real estate. Clarkson will return $200 million of that as a donation earmarked for "Project Health" — a $2.19 billion campus redevelopment plan for UNMC. Nebraska Medicine carries an "AA-" credit rating from Fitch, and stabilizing its governance is seen as essential to keeping that rating intact, NP Telegraph reported.
If regents approve Monday's agreements, OCF steps in as a temporary governing member alongside the University. Nebraska Medicine's 10,253 employees would not become state workers. The hospital's nonprofit status would survive. Healthcare analysts describe OCF's role as a novel "third-way" approach — a philanthropic buffer that satisfies legal requirements without introducing corporate or private-equity pressures into a $2.5 billion health system.
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