DiPalma Calls for Strengthening of Hospital Conversion Act Due to Potential Care New England-Partner
DiPalma Calls for Strengthening of Hospital Conversion Act Due to Potential Care New England-Partner
Now mega-Boston hospital group Partners is also negotiating with Lifespan.
DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) is introducing the legislation along with Rep. Kenneth Marshall (D-Dist. 68, Bristol, Warren) regarding the HCA, specifically over concerns that the current HCA is not strong enough to support a proper review of entities proposing acquisitions from adjacent states.
“We have never seen a proposal where one of Rhode Island’s largest hospital systems would be acquired by a hospital network that is located in a state adjacent to Rhode Island. The potential for patients, jobs, and services to migrate to Massachusetts is a serious concern,” said DiPalma. “Smaller community hospitals have been acquired by hospitals as far away as California, but in those cases, there was no risk of patients leaving the state to seek hospital services."
The legislation received strong support from one of Rhode Island's largest healthcare groups -- CharterCARE.
“It is good public policy for the House and Senate to raise concerns about the current requirements of Rhode Island’s Hospital Conversion Act that do not entertain the impacts of a hospital system just up the street from acquiring one of the largest employers and healthcare providers in Rhode Island," said the company in a statement.
"Since Care New England’s proposed acquisition by Partners was announced, access to healthcare has been lessened and a loss of healthcare jobs in Rhode Island has already occurred. The closure of Memorial Hospital and more recently the announced closure of CNE’s Diamond Hill Road medical facility in Woonsocket, where women received obstetrics and gynecology services, are proof points of concern regarding the future of hospital care in Rhode Island,” added CharterCARE.
"This proposal presents a unique risk to Rhode Island’s hospitals and healthcare system. We must ensure our hospital conversion laws consider this potential and what it will mean for access to high-quality hospital care in Rhode Island," said DiPalma.