Both the Boston Herald and the Lowell Sun are reporting an AP story that a coalition of community hospitals are looking for restrictions on the  Caritas Christi Health Care system after its sale to Cerberus – a private equity firm. Expecting increased competition for their doctors and fearful of the possible use 0f  “improper” incentives, the Healthcare Access Coalition is seeking limits on how this for-profit will do business.

The Healthcare Access Coalition – made up of hospitals in Lawrence, Brockton and New Bedford – wants to prevent Caritas’ buyer, Cerberus Capital Management, from using “improper” incentives to recruit their doctors.

The coalition is also asking the state attorney general’s office for a three-year ban on price increases for hospital services.

 

A lawyer for the coalition tells The Boston Globe that the fear is that Cerberus’ for-profit hospitals could become “predatory” and drive up costs.

Caritas and Cerberus officials refused comment.

Read more here in the Lowell Sun and here in the Boston Herald.

Note:  Holy Family Hospital in Methuen – providing heath care and service to communities of the Merrimack Valley – is part of the Caritas Christi Health Care system.