WVU HEALTH SYSTEM ORDERED TO KEEP ACQUIRED HOSPITALS OPEN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

WVU Health System has been ordered to keep each of the newly acquired hospitals in Western PA open for the next five years as part of the settlement that will advance the acquisition of Independence Health System.  The Trib reports that other parts of the settlement with the Pennsylvania Attorney General include implementing and maintaining a policy that prohibits the sharing of competitively sensitive information between its insurance and provider subsidiaries” and “negotiate in good faith with health insurance plans with a last best offer binding arbitration backstop if needed.”  WVU Medicine also cannot terminate any existing Indpendence Health System contracts and any and all funds earmarked for Independence will be used according to respective conditions or similar purposes.