Registered nurses in multiple states plan to protest the transaction between Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems and Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates.
Unionized nurses from West Virginia, Ohio, California, Pennsylvania and Florida and National Nurses United, representing nurses from CHS, will be at a press conference in Naples, Fla., 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The nurses oppose CHS' $7.6 billion acquisition of Health Management because they believe the money will be "diverted from safe patient care and improved patient services in hospitals already plagued with widespread patient care concerns," a NNU news release states.
The NNU is not the first union to express opposition to the pending mega-merger: the American Federation of Teachers, one of the largest teachers unions in the country, wrote a letter to CHS and Health Management expressing their concerns over the transaction in December. AFT mostly represents teachers but also advocates for many nurse and healthcare professionals who are members.
In response to the AFT letter, Rachel Seifert, executive vice president and general counsel at CHS, said the transaction "will serve the best interests of all stakeholders."
Health Management shareholders are holding a vote on the merger later Wednesday. At least 70 percent of Health Management owners must agree to merger.
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