Williamson Health called it “exploration.” Records show it was already a sale in motion — with consultants screening bidders weeks before the public knew. Transparency didn’t come first; it came after exposure.
By Kelly Jackson
October 2025 – Franklin, Tennessee
When Williamson Health released an open letter to the community earlier this summer, the tone was measured and reassuring. The nonprofit organization that oversees Williamson Medical Center announced what it called a “strategic planning process” — a review meant to explore all options for long-term stability, including the possibility of a sale.
The letter described a cautious, deliberate approach: one that would “consider all possible options,” “preserve independence if viable,” and “prioritize transparency.” It emphasized that no decision had been made, that the process was merely exploratory, and that any sale would require both County Commission and Tennessee Attorney General approval before moving forward.
That official statement painted a picture of prudence and process. But what it left out is that this so-called “exploration” was already well underway — and had been for weeks — long before the public or the County Commission knew about it.
What Wasn’t Said
Documents and correspondence obtained by TruthWire show that Williamson County’s consultant, Kaufman Hall, had already begun soliciting and screening potential buyers for Williamson Health as early as early September. One prospective buyer, Quantum Health Partners, led by Dr. Richard Juda, was contacted, questioned about its financing, and then summarily dismissed from the process before ever being allowed to submit a proposal or sign a nondisclosure agreement.
In other words, the “Request for Proposal” process wasn’t theoretical — it was already active. Prospective purchasers were told that a closing was expected in 2026, and at least one bidder was turned away behind closed doors.
That matters because, under Tennessee law, no such process can begin without the County Commission first declaring the hospital surplus property and authorizing a sale. The Public Benefit Hospital Sales and Conveyance Act of 2006 also requires public notice, Attorney General review, and a period for citizen comment before any transaction can even be contemplated. None of those steps had occurred when Kaufman Hall began talking to potential buyers.
It appears, then, that Williamson County may already be out of compliance with multiple state statutes:
- T.C.A. § 5-14-108 — County property cannot be sold without Commission approval and must go through a publicly advertised, competitive bidding process.
- T.C.A. § 48-68-201 et seq. — The Public Benefit Hospital Sales Act requires public notice and Tennessee Attorney General review before any hospital sale can proceed.
- Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act and Public Records Act — prohibit secret deliberations and closed-door decisions regarding public assets.
Instead of following those rules, Kaufman Hall appears to be privately vetting and excluding bidders — a process that looks a lot like bid steering and, in effect, an unauthorized sale of a public asset.
A Pattern of Omission and Overreach
Commissioner Christopher Richards, who represents Brentwood’s District 7, has formally requested that the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office investigate the situation. In his letter to the Comptroller’s Office, Richards called the consultant’s actions “beyond irregular” and “indefensible,” noting that Kaufman Hall appeared to be conducting an active sale process without any lawful authorization from the County Commission.
Richards did not mince words:
“I’m disgusted that our county keeps skirting state law when it comes to bidding and public contracts. We have clear statutes that require open, competitive bidding — yet time and again, this administration treats them like suggestions. The hospital situation is just the latest example of Williamson County putting convenience ahead of legality and public trust.”
The documents Richards forwarded show that he and Dr. Juda had raised concerns weeks before Williamson Health’s public announcement. Their letters outline how the consultant had already discussed terms, asked for financial breakdowns, and then closed off the conversation entirely — all without public authorization or transparency.
A Warning That Raises New Concerns
That tension became even clearer in a recent statement from Williamson Health CEO Phil Mazzuca. In response to growing public concern, Mazzuca warned that “any attempts to unduly influence the process will be considered during our evaluation process,” adding that all communications regarding the hospital’s “strategic planning process” must occur solely through Kaufman Hall. Participants, he said, were prohibited from discussing the matter with county commissioners, elected officials, media, or community members.
That language goes well beyond routine confidentiality; it effectively instructs silence on a matter that Tennessee law requires to be handled in the open. If the process involves a potential sale of county-owned property, such restrictions appear to contradict T.C.A. § 5-14-108, § 48-68-201 et seq., and the state’s Open Meetings and Records Acts, which mandate transparency, public bidding, and Commission oversight.
By contractually isolating Kaufman Hall from public scrutiny, Williamson Health appears to have created a closed loop of decision-making that runs counter to both the spirit and the letter of Tennessee’s transparency laws.
The Commission’s Silence
Perhaps most troubling is that the vast majority of the Williamson County Commission doesn’t appear to be alarmed by these apparent violations. Despite clear conflicts with state law, few commissioners have publicly questioned the process or demanded corrective action. Instead, most seem content to follow the direction of Williamson Health CEO Phil Mazzuca — effectively deferring to his contractual stipulations rather than asserting the Commission’s legal authority over the sale of county assets. That quiet compliance may soon prove costly, not only to public trust but to the Commission’s own credibility as a governing body charged with oversight.
An “Exploration” That Looks a Lot Like a Sale
To the public, Williamson Health’s message was careful and polished. The Board of Trustees said the hospital was only in a “discovery phase” and that the goal was to consider “every option” to strengthen the organization’s future. But internally, Kaufman Hall had been representing the process to potential buyers as a sale, not a study.
Even if one believes the hospital’s intentions were good — to secure long-term financial stability in a volatile healthcare market — the manner in which it unfolded raises fundamental questions. Why were discussions with private firms occurring before the County Commission had voted? Why were qualified bidders screened out in private? And why was the public left unaware that the process had already started?
For many residents, those questions are less about whether the hospital should be sold and more about how it’s being handled. In fact, plenty of citizens might support a sale if it were done openly, through lawful channels, and with clear community benefit. But that isn’t what seems to be happening.
Public Trust at Stake
Williamson Medical Center is one of the county’s most valuable public assets — built, maintained, and expanded with taxpayer support. Its future deserves a process that is lawful, transparent, and accountable from the beginning, not just at the end.
For now, Williamson Health continues to describe the initiative as a planning exercise. But the record suggests that the planning phase was already well past underway when the public first heard about it.
The citizens of Williamson County deserve more than a carefully crafted press release. They deserve to know what decisions have already been made — and by whom — before the “exploration” began.
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