Last MI hospitals standing solo flirt with mergers

Hospitals from Detroit to Petoskey once again are in the talking and courtship mood. Triggered by federal health reforms, the biggest hospital companies and the smallest ones are discussing how they can partner, affiliate or merge, in part to earn more new federal health reform money for the savings and improvements they achieve. Flint-area and Petoskey hospitals, among Michigan's last 37 independent or freestanding hospitals, are in talks to find a partner. Dozens of other hospitals apparently are too, though most don't want to talk about it.