Charitable Trusts OK paves way for Dover/MGH hospital merger to continue

Attorney General Joseph A. Foster (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD, N.H. - Attorney General Joseph A. Foster announced on Monday that the proposed acquisition of Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover by the Massachusetts General Hospital has received a favorable determination by the state's Charitable Trusts Unit.

The Director of Charitable Trusts has issued a report reviewing the proposed transaction and concluding that the deal includes sufficient protections for the charitable purposes and the assets of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, a press release stated.

The favorable determination is conditioned upon Wentworth-Douglass and MGH making specific commitments for future community benefits to the Dover area. Those commitments include the addition of eight full-time behavioral health staff to provide mental health and substance abuse services.

The hospitals also promise the continuation of community benefit spending at no less than current levels. Finally, the hospitals will create a new system for the collection and report of data over time to the Attorney General concerning the cost, quality and access to health care at Wentworth-Douglass.

Attorney General Foster said: "in reviewing this transaction, we wanted to make sure that this deal protects both Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and the health care consumers in the Dover area. The two hospitals coming together have agreed to continue and expand community benefit spending, including spending on mental health and substance abuse services. Hospitals in New Hampshire are among our largest charitable organizations, so it is important that they be leaders in serving their communities. The conditions to this approval help make sure that this leadership will continue and increase."

The Attorney General's office continues to review the proposed Wentworth-Douglass/MGH transaction to see if it raises concerns about competition, a press release stated. That review, led by antitrust attorneys, should be completed before the end of this year.