New Hampshire
State approves Catholic Medical Center sale to HCA Healthcare
State officials have cleared the way for HCA Healthcare to buy Catholic Medical Center, the latest in a series of hospital mergers and acquisitions reshaping New Hampshire’s medical landscape.
The Manchester hospital says it’s struggling financially, and the sale to HCA – the country’s largest for-profit hospital company – will ensure its survival.
New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella announced Monday that his office had approved the deal, which is subject to a number of conditions meant to address concerns that patients could face higher costs or lose access to important services.
“This settlement represents a thoughtful approach that both addresses the insurmountable financial challenges CMC is facing and ensures that the health care needs of New Hampshire residents continue to be met,” Formella said in a news release.
Once HCA takes over, CMC patients with commercial insurance will remain in-network at the hospital. And under a separate agreement with the Diocese of Manchester, the hospital must also continue to adhere to Catholic ethical directives.
Under the terms of the acquisition, the state has barred HCA from cutting labor and delivery, emergency mental health care or other “core” services for at least 10 years – with some exceptions, including if a service incurs a financial loss for 12 months.
HCA agreed to a similar provision in 2020 when acquiring Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester – only to cut labor and delivery services two years later, citing financial and staffing reasons. In an effort to prevent that from happening again at CMC, the attorney general has barred HCA from citing financial losses as a reason to cut labor and delivery services in the first five years.
As part of the CMC deal, HCA has also agreed to add 10 new inpatient psychiatric beds across its hospitals in New Hampshire, which also include Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Parkland Medical Center in Derry and Frisbie.
The company will also pay $2 million over the next three years to help fund existing community health programs that will no longer be led by Catholic Medical Center, including Healthcare for the Homeless and the Poisson Dental Clinic.
The deal also requires HCA to pay the state $7.5 million over 10 years “to support community health programs in the Manchester community” and other initiatives to benefit New Hampshire patients.
HCA will also be prohibited from engaging in certain contracting practices that can stifle competition.
Editor’s note: HCA Healthcare and Catholic Medical Center are NHPR underwriters. They had no influence over this reporting.
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
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