MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- A suburban Atlanta health system has announced its purchase of key assets of a bankrupt health care think tank created by former U.S. House speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich.
Cobb County-based Wellstar Health System announced the $20,000 purchase on Wednesday.
WellStar President and CEO Reynold Jennings said the hospital group acquired the rights to the trademark and other assets of the center. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that WellStar intends to convert it from a for-profit think tank to an independent, nonprofit laboratory focused on reining in the cost of medical care.
Jennings said the new center will remain a nonpartisan organization.
Gingrich said in a statement that the center's members will decide what role, if any, that he will have in the new center.