The Rhode Island Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would hasten hospital mergers and acquisitions by changing a state law that requires extensive regulatory review of these transactions, according to the Providence Journal.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Crowley, calls for expedited regulatory reviews for nonprofits that are distressed, according to the report.
The bill would quicken the regulatory process by forcing the review to be completed in 90 days rather than 120, requiring 13 documents from applicants instead of 32 and having the health department look over 27 questions rather than 55, according to the report.
The bill would help accelerate the sale of Pawtucket, R.I-based Memorial Hospital to Prime Healthcare Services in Ontario, Calif. The bill could also speed up the sale of Care New England in Providence, R.I., to Boston-based Partners HealthCare, according to the report.