PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Health officials in Rhode Island are expediting their review of a proposed hospital merger.
The Providence Journal reports the Rhode Island Department of Health said Friday it had granted a request for an expedited review of the pending merger between Care New England, the state’s second largest health care system, and Boston-based Partners HealthCare.
The expedited process must be completed in 90 days.
The health department says it determined that Care New England operates one or more distressed hospitals and therefore it’s granting the request.
Officials at Rhode Island’s largest hospital system, Lifespan, say they don’t think Care New England meets the criteria for an expedited review.
The nonprofit Partners HealthCare was founded by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. It includes hospitals and other health-related entities.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.