Gary, Indiana-based Methodist Hospitals and Mishawaka, Indiana-based Franciscan Alliance have decided not to merge 10 months after announcing a potential union.
The Times of Northwest Indiana reports the two systems, among the largest providers in the region, blamed the abandoned talks on “shifts in the healthcare industry” and disagreements on certain elements of the partnership.
“Unfortunately, after months of thorough and thoughtful negotiations, we were unable to align on critical issues around the financial, operational and clinical service line implications of the proposed partnership,” Methodist Hospitals said in a press release. “These discussions were compounded by headwinds in the health care industry. We are disappointed that this partnership did not come to fruition.”
Franciscan Alliance president and CEO Kevin Leahy left the door open to resuming talks in the future if there was “another opportunity to work together to achieve better care, better access and lower costs.”
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.