Thursday, June 07, 2012

Whaddayouworriedabout?

The New York Times reports on a proposed merger of "NYU Langone Medical Center, a highly specialized academic medical center, and Continuum Health Partners, a network of several community-oriented hospitals, including Beth Israel and the two St. Luke’s-Roosevelt campuses. It would create one of the largest health care systems in the city."

Some people are nervous:

By strengthening its competitive advantage, a merged hospital system could limit options for patients and charge more for services, advocates fear. It would also have more power to negotiate higher rates with insurance companies, which might be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums. 

To which I say, don't worry.  This could never happen.  Look to Massachusetts for reassurance.

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