Minnesota Democrat lawmakers are advancing legislation that could lead to cancellation of the planned merger between Fairview Health Services and Sanford Health if the attorney general finds it’s not in the public’s interest, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports.
Fairview owns the University of Minnesota’s teaching hospital, and U officials worry about turning control over to an out-of-state entity — South Dakota-based Sanford — that doesn’t share their mission.
Myron Frans, senior vice president for finance and operations at the U, on Monday called the planned merger “a public health crisis” for Minnesota.
Former Gov. Mark Dayton also testified in favor of the bill.
“Access to the best possible medical care is the most priceless asset we can offer to the people of Minnesota,” he said Monday. “ … It would be catastrophic if the University’s medical school or its hospitals were controlled by an out-of-state entity.” Read more.
