Beth Israel And Lahey Health Say Their Merger Would Save Up To $270 Million A Year

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health say the state's Health Policy Commission estimate for the cost of their proposed merger is wrong.

In a filing Monday, the organizations say the state panel used a flawed model to determine that the merger would increase health care spending up to $190 million a year on inpatient, outpatient and adult primary care services. The merger would further hike spending by tens of millions more for specialty physician services, the commission said.

The health organizations say the proposed Beth Israel Lahey Health would "deliver improved access, quality, efficiency, and value" and result in annual savings of $149 million to $270 million.

A spokesperson for the Health Policy Commission said the panel is reviewing the comments following its initial analysis, and plans to discuss its final report at a Sept. 27 meeting.

The merger requires approval from the state attorney general and federal regulators. If approved, the deal would put 13 hospitals in one system.