Letter: Healthcare merger warrants scrutiny
How would a merger of Lifespan and Care
The two largest health systems in the state want to merge into one even larger health care system that would control 80% of the hospital market, including seven of the nine not-for-profit hospitals in the state. Not only would the new entity control hospital care, it would largely control the physician market as well.
Lifespan and CNE talk about improved quality, reduced cost, and improved access. However, the growing body of evidence suggests that more caution and scrutiny towards the claims of Lifespan and CNE are warranted. Typically after such transactions, costs go up, quality erodes, patient satisfaction is neutral or worse, and increasingly wages are suppressed.
As the
In recent history, the
The proposed new health care behemoth would have extraordinary power and influence to shape regulation and legislation in its favor. Lifespan already has substantial power as evidenced by its recent successful campaign to keep Brigham and Women's from merging with CNE. Additionally,
All of this makes it "critical," as the OHIC report states, that there be "strong regulatory oversight" associated with any approval of the merger. It concludes that while the proposed merger "presents a compelling set of opportunities," its risks are "significant and should command careful attention by regulators and the public."
OHIC sets out baseline criteria for a regulatory oversight model. Its recommendations include comprehensive price caps, quality incentive requirements, adoption of advanced value-based purchasing, health equity improvement requirements, and a model for sustainable funding. That is a good starting point.
If this proposed merger proves too risky, it must not proceed. If it does move forward, we must have robust protections in place for patients and workers.
My colleagues in government must remain vigilant in protecting our health care system and avoid making a mess that might be impossible to clean up.
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