I would encourage you to watch this video. Pay attention to the folks cutting the ribbons, or in this case taking photos in front of the step and repeat. Michael Dowling has the talking points down cold, but the tone of the message troubles me. Adopting a tone of infallibility is risky, particularly when his assertion regarding access and improved care for communities is far from certain. I would go so far as to say "debateable."
A bit of background, Northwell Health and Nuvance Health are merging, creating a massive system with 28 hospitals across New York and Connecticut.
They claim this will lead to "significant investments" and better access to care. There's a fine line between self-assurance and arrogance, a line that seems blurred given the speculative nature of the assertionsStudy after study shows consolidation increases costs (i.e., limits access) and provides no commensurate benefit on quality.
Hospital mergers drive up costs without improving care. Today, two-thirds of hospitals are part of large systems, and 80% of hospital markets are highly consolidated. This consolidation increases healthcare prices, making insurance premiums more expensive for everyone. It also suppresses wages, not just for healthcare workers, but for all employees when their employers have to pay more for health insurance.
Given the labor shortages and workforce burnout issues that Mr. Dowling bemoans, the effect on healthcare workers in consolidating systems is especially concerning. With fewer employers to choose from, workers have less bargaining power, leading to slower wage growth. This consolidation trend is bad news for patients and workers alike.
Despite the clear problems, it seems neither the American Hospital Association (AHA) nor regulatory bodies are paying attention. Hospital consolidation continues unchecked, harming Americans' wallets and workers' wages.
We now have a Chief Competition Officer and pronouncements on the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) increased emphasis on promoting healthcare competition..... I wonder if anything will change.
Big news 📢 Northwell and Nuvance Health have entered into a strategic agreement to form a new integrated regional health system, combining the strengths of both organizations and advancing the level of care for patients across New York and Connecticut.
“This partnership opens a new and exciting chapter for Northwell and Nuvance Health and provides an incredible opportunity to enhance both health systems and take patient care and services to an even higher level,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health.
“We have similar missions in providing high-quality care for patients in the communities we serve. We look forward to building on the care that Nuvance Health’s 14,000 staff members and providers deliver each and every day.”
🔗 Read more about the partnership here: https://bit.ly/3IeG9ZF