Dive Brief:
- The Chairs of the Boards of the Illinois Hospital Association (IHA) and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) have signed a letter of intent to form an integrated organization to "better serve their members and the patients and communities they serve."
- The focus of the new organization will be enhancement and alignment of MCHC and IHA services.
- The merger is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Dive Insight:
MCHC spokeswoman Janine Sheedy told Modern Healthcare that both organizations already have a lot of membership overlap and "very strong balance sheets."
"We're just looking at it as, if we come together with our complementary strengths, what benefits can come of that?" Sheedy said.
"By leveraging the expertise of both organizations, spurring innovation and advancing collaboration, this integrated organization has the opportunity to redefine what a healthcare association means to its members, and will not only benefit them but also contribute to Illinois being a national leader in health care delivery," MCHC CEO Dan Yunker and IHA CEO Maryjane Wurth said in a statement.
The statement also said that formation of the integrated organization will put IHA and MCHC "in a position to grow current offerings for their members, including new business and revenue solutions and an array of innovative technology, data analytics and information to support the management of population health and systems of care."