SNCH spokesman Damian Becker said last week that under the agreement, South Nassau would acquire the operating license of the Komanoff Center for Geriatric & Rehabilitative Medicine, which reopened last year, but not the hospital. Becker explained that SNCH must acquire the hospital property in order to build the emergency department, following the opening of an urgent-care center at the site sometime in the spring. Officials said that LBMC trustees approved South Nassau’s proposed asset purchase agreement on Tuesday. The agreement also needs the approval of a bankruptcy court and any creditors, officials said.

Becker had told the Herald in January that an agreement between the two hospitals was expected to be finalized this month, but said on Wednesday that he was unaware of the board's decision. LBMC officials said that talks with South Nassau are still ongoing.

“South Nassau was very non-committal in certain areas,” the official said of the agreement. “They’re waiting for guarantees from the state or money from FEMA before they will commit to the 24-hour emergency department.” As a result, the agreement does not specify whether an emergency department or other medical services will ultimately be provided at the site, another official said.

That official, who also declined to be identified, said that a memorandum of understanding that LBMC signed with SNCH last year — which includes a nondisclosure agreement — states that SNCH is committed to opening the emergency department by late summer.

“That’s the only commitment we have from South Nassau,” the official said. “Does that hold any weight in this asset purchase agreement? Quite frankly, we’re not sure. The only assurances we have are the public comments made by [South Nassau].”