Cardio merger plan on hold
A planned merger between MaineHealth and two cardiology centers in the Portland area is still on hold after the Legislature failed to approve changes to a state antitrust law.
MaineHealth, Maine Cardiology Associates of South Portland and Scarborough-based Cardiovascular Consultants of Maine had proposed a merger under which MaineHealth would buy the centers' offices and equipment and hire their 40 cardiologists, according to the Portland Press Herald. But they withdrew their application for a merger in March after a legislative committee took out part of the group's proposed law change that would have allowed the merger to go through despite antitrust rules. The law change would have allowed them to fight antitrust challenges by demonstrating the merger's benefit to the public interest.
The group's efforts to push the proposal through the Legislature failed, and MaineHealth spokesman Mark Harris said they are considering "different opportunities to move forward," according to the paper.
Mercy Hospital in Portland and Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston have both objected to changing the law, saying it would create a monopoly and force them to tap cardiologists that are employed by another hospital.
Go to the article from the Portland Press Herald >>
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