Boston-based Partners HealthCare has completed its takeover of Harbor Medical Associates, a 70-physician group on Massachusetts' south shore, according to The Boston Globe.
After Partners announced its move to buy the medical group, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy voiced her disapproval of the deal and told The Boston Globe, "Partners needs to demonstrate it's taking steps to drive down costs."
The Health Policy Commission said Partners purchasing the medical group could add $8 million to medical spending. That number was calculated based on Harbor physicians being paid the same rates as Partners physicians, according to the report.
However, Partners is taking steps to address the concerns of the attorney general and health officials. The 10-hospital system has promised price increases for its new physicians will be limited to the rate of inflation for about five years.
Although Attorney General Healy is disappointed with Partners' decision to follow through with the purchase of the medical group, she previously told The Boston Globe there is no legal cause of action that would allow her to block the transaction.
This is not the first the first time Partners has been under fire by the Massachusetts attorney general. In February, Partners backed outof a deal to acquire Weymouth, Mass.-based South Shore Hospital and put plans to acquire Melrose, Mass.-based Hallmark Health System on hold after Attorney General Healy threatened to sue over the deal.
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