Tufts Medical Center and Boston Medical Center won't be merging after all.
The two academic institutions announced in December that they would “explore a partnership,” but said last week that they had decided against it. They gave little reasoning why the talks were called off. Similarly, officials at BMC and Tufts didn't say why they were interested in a partnership when the discussions were first announced, only that a merger would bring together the organizations' strengths.
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission had initially said a potential merger would “constitute a significant change in the Massachusetts healthcare market.” The state agency reviews all mergers to determine whether consolidation is likely to increase healthcare costs or reduce competition.
Kate Walsh, BMC's CEO, and Dr. Michael Wagner, CEO for Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children, said the two systems will remain open to future collaboration.
“We have had thoughtful conversations and considered different options for tackling the complex task of integrating two vital, but different, academic medical centers,” they said in a statement. “After much consideration, we have determined that, at this time, it is best for our medical centers to remain separate.”
