The Minnesota Legislature on Sunday passed a bill that bans anti-competitive health care mergers, which could kill the proposed marriage of Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and Sioux Falls-based Sanford Health, reports the Minnesota Reformer. The bill is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz, who has previously said he is open to the merger, although the governor’s office did not immediately say Sunday whether he would sign the measure.
The bill also prohibits out-of-state entities from owning in whole or part University of Minnesota health care entities, as would be the case were Sanford to complete its merger with Fairview, which owns the university’s teaching hospital.
But Fairview and Sanford said they intend to continue with the merger — which has already been delayed — despite the legislation. Read more.
