Group Says Hospital Merger Will Impact People Of Color

Patch
A State House protest targeted the proposed merger between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health​.

BOSTON, MA -- Community leaders from Boston, Brockton, Lawrence and Lowell rallied at the State House Thursday and delivered a petition with more than 8,000 signatures opposing the proposed merger between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health. The proposed merger, which was approved by the Massachusetts Public Health Council in April, would create the state's second biggest healthcare company after Partners HealthCare.

"This mega-merger would be a disaster for communities of color and Medicaid patients who rely on community hospitals," said Hanoi Reyes, spokeswoman for the Make Healthcare Affordable Coalition. "Today we join 8,000 residents in calling on state regulators to stop this merger, which benefits the affluent and leaves the most vulnerable behind."

In July, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission released a report that said the proposed merger would increase healthcare costs in Massachusetts. The healthcare systems responded with their own report last month, saying the merger would cut healthcare costs in Massachusetts by $149 million to $270 million.

The impact of the merger would be felt throughout the greater Boston area. In addition to its hospital and medical center in Burlington, Lahey operates Beverly Hospital, which has a staff of more than 600 physicians and a service area covering 13 communities. According to state data, Lahey Medical Center in Peabody is the city's 10th largest employer and has between 250 and 500 employees.

Lahey Medical Center in Peabody has 243 practicing physicians across 46 specialties. The center serves more than 800 outpatients each day and includes a 10-bed hospital. It's not clear what impact the merger would have on staffing or patient services at Lahey Medical Center in Peabody or Beverly Hospital.

While the April approval by the Massachusetts Public Health Council was seen as a big step forward for the merger, the Health Policy Commission and Attorney General Maura Healey still need to sign off on the deal. And Wednesday's report and hearing by the body suggest at least one of those approvals may not be forthcoming.

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Lawrence City Councillor at Large Brian De Peña joins members of the Make Healthcare Affordable Coalition. Photo by Make Healthcare Affordable Coalition.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).