PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence city councilors are set to take a look at the proposed deal between Lifespan Corporation, and the city of Providence tonight. Mayor Brett Smiley announced a new pilot program, or payment in lieu of taxes, between the city of Providence and Lifespan Corporations that would bring one and a half million dollars to the city over the next three years. If approved, this would be the first voluntary payment coming from the hospital in the past three years, and the largest annual contribution from the hospital in about a decade. Over the past year, Lifespan has seen a range of changes, including an agreement with Brown University to change its name to Brown University Health, cut back in its executive department, and the purchase of several former Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts. “They’re clearly doing what they feel like they need to do to be a healthier, more successful healthcare system. Which, make no mistake, separate and apart from these negotiations, we all have an interest in. You know, as Rhode Islanders, as the Mayor of Providence, we need a healthy hospital system,” said Smiley. “Ultimately, we switched direction a little bit and said let’s do something shorter, let’s give them a chance to make the transition that they need to make,” he said. Councilors are set to discuss this proposed pilot program at its meeting tonight. The memorandum would go into effect on signage and includes language for the hospital system to hold good faith discussions with the city for another pilot program at the end of this one. The meeting is this evening at 6 p.m. in city hall. Categories: News