Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis Hospital announced Sept. 1 the Vatican approved its merger with Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health, according to the Hartford Courant.
Connecticut state regulators approved Saint Francis' merger with the nationwide Catholic hospital chain last week. Trinity will not pay any cash for Saint Francis Hospital, but has agreed to spend $275 million over five years on equipment, facility upgrades and EHR conversions, according to the report.
The systems' plans to merge were first announced in December 2014.
Saint Francis Hospital and its Hartford-based affiliates — including St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital, Connecticut Joint Replacement Institute, St. Francis Medical Group and St. Francis Behavioral Health Group — are healthcare ministries of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, according to the report.
Trinity Health operates 86 hospitals in 21 states, and oversees 128 other facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted and independent living communities and housing complexes for low- and moderate-income people.