Meeting Today to Help Decide on Hospital Merger

If two large hospitals are to merge, a meeting today will go a long way toward making that happen. Cabell Huntington Hospital announced plans a few months back to buy St. Mary’s Medical Center, and several legal hurdles have to be overcome first. Approvals have to come from the Catholic Church, Federal Trade Commission and the West Virginia Healthcare Authority. There’s a hearing scheduled today before the healthcare authority. WCHS TV reports the hospitals will talk about how the merger will benefit patients, and those opposed will express concerns that the merger would create a monopoly and lead to higher healthcare costs.