At the urging of Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, Care New England based in Providence ended its merger negotiations with Massachusetts-based Partners HealthCare and will instead see if it can work out a merger agreement with Rhode-Island’s Lifespan and the medical school at Brown University.
“While I have little control over private hospital systems, I do have the ability to bring these parties together and ask them to reconvene negotiations on a crucial decision that will impact all Rhode Islanders for decades,” Raimondo said.
Partners said it respected the Rhode Island decision to coordinate care within its own borders, adding, “We look forward to reengaging at the appropriate time – especially with a fully integrated local system.”
Lifespan, Care New England, and Brown are fast-tracking negotiations in the hopes of having a deal by summer’s end. In an interview with the Boston Business Journal, Care New England President James Fanale said if a Rhode Island deal can’t be worked out. “I anticipate we’d reengage in those discussions [with Partners] and see where they go.” In the meantime, Care New England is maintaining its clinical ties to Partners in cardiology, and colorectal, thoracic and vascular surgery.