Competing ME hospital merger plan seeks to avoid 'medical arms race'

Mid Coast Hospital filed an application with the state Wednesday to take over Parkview Adventist Medical Center in Brunswick. Mid Coast's application rebuts a filing last month by Central Maine Healthcare of Lewiston, which also seeks to take control of Parkview, and would avoid what Mid Coast said would be a "medical arms race" in the Brunswick region. Mid Coast argues that decisions about healthcare in the Brunswick area should remain in the Brunswick area. Central Maine Healthcare officials have said their proposal is consistent with what has already happened numerous times in Maine and beyond—namely large hospitals taking over smaller ones while allowing them to remain in existence.