Starkville’s only hospital is closer to having a new owner.
WTVA reported that the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors signed a definitive asset purchase agreement on Wednesday, allowing Baptist Memorial Health Care to purchase the Oktibbeha County Regional Hospital (OCH) Regional Medical Center for $55 million.
As part of the definitive asset purchase agreement, Baptist also vowed to invest over $86 million into hospital facilities, technology, and physician recruitment, while offering active OCH employees in good standing a job under the new ownership.
The deal, expected to be finalized by the end of next month, comes after a months-long negotiation process that has included conversations with not only OCH leadership but also community pillars such as Mississippi State University and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
“This decision, taking into consideration participation from stakeholders including the public, Mississippi State University, the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, and OCH leadership, marks a pivotal step toward ensuring sustainable, high-quality healthcare for residents of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi,” board members stated after the initial decision to allow Baptist Memorial to purchase OCH in May.
The sale of OCH, which has been under county control since 1973, comes after an internal evaluation predicted a concerning future if it remained a government entity. Specifically, the evaluation found people living in Starkville were choosing to travel to other hospitals for specialized care, resulting in a revenue loss for OCH.
Baptist Memorial is based in Memphis, Tenn., and owns 12 hospitals in Mississippi, including in Jackson, Columbus, and Meridian. Its hospital in Oxford was recently named to the “Best Hospitals for 2025” list by Healthgrades, making it the only Mississippi hospital to be included among the top 5% in the U.S. for clinical excellence.
