RIPLEY, Miss. (AP) — Tippah County supervisors are moving ahead with obtaining proposals for the lease of the Tippah County Hospital.

Officials tell the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal (http://bit.ly/TKX5sW) that health care is changing and it is difficult for a rural hospital to survive without being part of a larger, better funded organization.

Several months ago, supervisors hired an accounting firm to review the operations of the county-owned hospital. The firm recommended going to a long-term lease.

In November, the hospital's board agreed that supervisors should consider some lease proposals.

Just before Thanksgiving, supervisors contacted hospital organizations in Mississippi and Tennessee to submit proposals. Supervisors have declined to identify the companies.

The deadline for proposals is Feb. 5. Supervisors hope to make a final decision later in February.

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Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://djournal.com