Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy rebuked Boston-based Partners HealthCare for its move to buy Harbor Medical Associates, a 70-physician group on Massachusetts' South Shore, because it contradicted statements that the system would reevaluate its expansion plan, according to The Boston Globe.
"Partners needs to demonstrate it's taking steps to drive down costs," Attorney General Healey told The Boston Globe. "The Harbor transaction is more growth and expansion — acquiring additional doctors — and Partners itself acknowledged it will result in higher reimbursement rates."
The 10-hospital system has been under fire for its aggressive expansion strategy, which included plans to acquire Weymouth, Mass.-based South Shore Hospital and two hospitals from Melrose, Mass.-based Hallmark Health System. In February, Partners backed out of the South Shore Hospital deal after a judge rejected the settlement and Attorney General Healy threatened to sue, according to the report. The Hallmark acquisition is on hold.
The system has not yet filed updated plans with the State Health Policy Commission, but Partners HealthCare executives outlined their ideas with the attorney general last week, according to the report. The Harbor Medical acquisition is meant to bring more coordinated care to more patients in the region, a spokesperson told The Boston Globe.
Attorney General Healy said she is disappointed, but has no legal case to block the transaction, according to the report.
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