Hospital Mergers in the New York Area Bring Cost Fears

Recently the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/ * noted: “Hospital takeovers are surging in the New York region, raising concerns that health costs could climb and care could change.
In New York state, at least a dozen hospitals, many of them financially ailing, have become part of larger networks since 2011, according to the state Department of Health. More than a dozen have new owners or new affiliations in New Jersey during the same period as well.”
“Recent state-approved activity in New York includes Mount Sinai Health System snapping up the five New York facilities encompassing the former Continuum Health Partners and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital adding a sixth campus by absorbing New York Downtown Hospital. And Bronx-based Montefiore Medical Center acquired two financially struggling Westchester hospitals.
In late July in New Jersey, a judge approved the sale of St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic to Prime Healthcare Services, a California-based for-profit firm. In June, Barnabas Health, the state’s largest healthcare network, completed its deal to take over Jersey City Medical Center.”
* to read the full WSJ article “Hospital Mergers in the New York Area Bring Cost Fears” by Josh Dawsey, highlight and click on open hyperlink http://online.wsj.com/articles/hospital-mergers-in-the-new-york-area-bring-cost-fears-1407201110
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Jonathan M. Metsch, Dr.P.H., is Clinical Professor, Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Adjunct Professor, Baruch College ( C.U.N.Y.), Rutgers School of Public Health, and Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration
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