The Health Policy Commission announced on Friday that it would conduct a comprehensive Cost and Market Impact Review (CMIR) on the proposed merger of Partners HealthCare and Massachusetts Eye & Ear (MEE). The two facilities signed a letter of intent in January to explore the merger proposal in which Mass Eye & Ear would keep its name and hospital license, and maintain its own board of directors, executive leadership team, medical and research staff, and community outreach and fundraising activities. After reviewing the completed notices of intent that Partners and MEE submitted to HPC, the HPC staff said it had “identified the potential for the transaction to result in meaningful impacts on health care costs and the competitive market.” Therefore HPC staff will recommend to the full HPC Board at its next meeting on July 26 that the staff be empowered to conduct a CMIR.