On July 6, Garrett County Commissioners approved a Letter of Intent for Garrett Regional Medical Center (GRMC) to begin the due diligence phase of exploring full membership with the West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS). The due diligence process is expected to occur over the next year as the parties negotiate terms of a final agreement. Presently, the parties are planning to structure the agreement as a long-term lease with the county retaining ownership of the facility, while WVUHS manages the hospital. GRMC, based in Oakland, Maryland, has been clinically affiliated with WVU Medicine but remained independent.