Partners Healthcare Withdraws Bid For Care New England Merger

After Partners Healthcare withdrew its bid to purchase Care New England, Governor Gina Raimondo is calling on local healthcare organizations to come together and form a local consortium. She is asking Lifespan, Care New England and Brown University to form an academic medical center in Rhode Island.

"A thriving hospital system is critical to the health care of all Rhode Islanders," Raimondo said. "With that in mind, I have called on Care New England, Lifespan and Brown to sit down once again and consider a joint solution. While I have little control over private hospital systems, I do have the ability to bring these parties together and ask them to reconvene negotiations on a crucial decision that will impact all Rhode Islanders for decades."

Massachusetts-based Partners Healthcare has withdrawn its bid to buy Care New England. Interim President and CEO Anne Klibanski said the company "greatly values" their relationship with Rhode Island and wants to do what is best for residents.

"In order to give this effort the best possible chance for success and to provide maximum flexibility to the governor and the leadership of these three institutions, we will be withdrawing our application to acquire Care New England," Klibanski said. "We look forward to reengaging at the appropriate time – especially with a fully integrated local system."

Lifespan previously called the proposed merger "devastating" for Rhode Island, WPRI reported.

"Partners is one of the best medical systems in the country, and we appreciate their interest in Rhode Island," Raimondo continued. "Whether or not Rhode Island affiliates with a larger system at some point, I believe creating a more integrated, locally-run, academic structure first is what’s in the best interest of Rhode Islanders now and in the long run."

The governor is asking all three parties to identify if the project is possible by the end of the summer.

"We are pleased that the Governor has taken this important first step to achieve a vision that has eluded the state for more than two decades. We are confident that with the good faith efforts of all the parties involved, we will finally achieve the vision of unified academic health care system for the state of Rhode Island that will have a positive impact on patient care and our economy for years to come," said Lifespan's top officials said in a statement. "We are excited to get this effort underway."