KY AG to review CHI, U of L hospital merger

Kentucky's top consumer protection official said he wants to review a proposed hospital merger amid concerns that women may not have access to tubal ligations at a Louisville hospital that serves as a safety net for the poor. Attorney General Jack Conway said it is his responsibility to question the pending merger of Louisville's University Hospital with two private hospital companies. The lead partner in the merger is Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, and The Courier-Journal reported Sunday that after the merger, the hospitals involved would not perform tubal ligations to prevent pregnancy because of the Catholic Church's opposition to sterilization. "We're going to take a look at what role we have, if any," Conway told the newspaper in an interview, saying he wants to make sure consumers and taxpayers are protected. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer also met Thursday with U of L President James Ramsey to determine how University Hospital will handle reproductive care.