Catholic Medical Center’s plan to join HCA Healthcare — the for-profit health care giant that also owns hospitals in Portsmouth, Rochester and Derry — is still in its early stages.
But before the deal becomes final, it will need buy-in from New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, who says a proposed merger of this size will “merit a lot of close scrutiny.”
That includes how it might impact costs and access to care for patients, Formella said.
“In any transaction, we are going to want to see a commitment that the acquiring hospital keeps critical services going in the hospital that they've acquired,” he said.