PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal regulators have approved a merger between two New England hospital networks.
WPRI-TV reports that Boston-based Partners HealthCare confirmed that the Federal Trade Commission had approved a deal between Partners and Care New England, Rhode Island’s second-largest health care system.
State regulators must approve the agreement before Partners finalizes the acquisition.
The state Department of Health moved to expedite the merger review process in September, citing distressed hospitals in the Care New England system.
Partners CFO Peter Markell believes a decision will be made by April. Markell doesn’t think Massachusetts regulators will block the deal.
Care New England closed Memorial Hospital in Pawtucket earlier this year. It currently operates Women & Infants, Kent and Butler hospitals.
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Information from: WPRI-TV, http://www.wpri.com
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