LSU Sends Collection Letter To Hospital Manager

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — LSU has sent a collection letter to the nonprofit foundation running the university's hospitals in Monroe and Shreveport, saying it owes the LSU System more than $25 million.

The money is for physician, transition and other services related to the privatization that should have been paid by the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, according to LSU.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, LSU says the foundation hasn't assumed the financial obligations required under its contract, despite taking over hospital management 10 months ago.

The university said the foundation has used LSU as its "personal piggy bank."

Stephen Skrivanos, research foundation chairman, said Thursday LSU's claims "strain credulity." He says the foundation disagrees with the amount owed and blames LSU for making the transition more difficult than necessary.