Massachusetts' watchdog agency, the Health Policy Commission, will not conduct a rigorous review of Boston-based Partners HealthCare's proposed acquisition of Providence, R.I.-based Care New England, as the deal would not have a large effect on residents in the state, The Boston Globe reports.
Five things to know:
1. While the Health Policy Commission has criticized Partners' expansion plans in the past, the agency said this deal is different because the two organizations' patient populations stem from largely different geographic areas, according to the report.
2. The commission also said it does not anticipate a decrease in market competition in the state if Partners acquires CNE. However, the agency said it will monitor whether the transaction ends up drawing patients out of state who would have otherwise visited community hospitals in Massachusetts.
3. In a Feb. 13 joint statement obtained by The Boston Globe, Partners and CNE said they "appreciate the Health Policy Commission's careful consideration of our proposal and we look forward to continuing to work with them."
4. Rhode Island health officials and the state's attorney general's office are still reviewing the deal, which was initially announced in 2017.
5. CNE officials said Partners President and CEO David Torchiana, MD, stepping down from his position in April "will have no impact" on the pending transaction, the report states.
To access the full report, click here.
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