MANCHESTER, NH – Elliot Health System and Southern New Hampshire Health System on Monday announced that they have signed a binding Combination Agreement to create SolutionHealth, a new non-profit regional healthcare system.
The new organization, pending final regulatory approval, will oversee a community-based regional health care network that will enhance access to affordable care while ensuring quality of care delivered throughout southern New Hampshire.
Elliot and SNHH will each retain their respective names, identities, and local governance structures as independently licensed organizations. The Combination Agreement comes as a result of the process set forth in a Letter of Intent signed by both parties in June of this year, which required Elliot and SNHH to work together on an exclusive basis to complete due diligence and negotiate a final, binding combination agreement. After months of careful review and discussion, a final Combination Agreement was unanimously approved by both the Elliot and SNHH Boards of Trustees.
The agreement is now subject to a 120-day review period by the New Hampshire Department of Justice, which will include hearings in both Manchester and Nashua to solicit the public’s input.
In a joint statement released Monday, Elliot President and CEO Doug Dean and SNHH President and CEO Mike Rose stated spoke about their shared goal of providing a regional NH-based solution to address the “increasingly complex challenges” facing healthcare providers here.
“In this rapidly changing environment, our commitment is to develop a highly-coordinated, community-based regional health care network that will enhance access to affordable care while ensuring quality of care delivered throughout southern New Hampshire. In so doing, we reaffirm our shared commitment to strengthening and expanding our charitable missions to provide the very best healthcare possible to the communities we serve, where and how it is needed most.”
Elliot Board Chairman Jim Hood and SNHH Board Chairman Tim Sullivan added also issued a statement that said, in part, SolutionHealth “will strengthen both organizations at a time when economic pressures are challenging patients and their providers, while affording us greater ability to provide easier access to quality healthcare.”
Nomination of a new board of governors, five each from Elliot and SNHH respectively, and trustees to serve as the board for the new organization were announced during a press briefing Monday held at the Manchester Millyard Museum.
From Elliot Health System:
Howard Brodsky, John Hession, Dr. Lawrence Hoepp, Dr. Stephen Loosigian, and Ms. Dianne Mercier. From Southern New Hampshire Health: Clifford Kinghorn, Martha O’Neill Esq., James Steiner, Dr. Praveen K. Suchdev, and Timothy Sullivan Esq.
The website previously created by Elliot and SNHH – www.nhregionalhealthcare.org – to provide public information about the proposed combination, including the Combination Agreement announced Oct. 30, will continue to be the online headquarters throughout this process. The site will be updated as discussions proceed and will include schedules and information on meetings and the ability for the public to submit comments and questions.
Both organizations will now focus on collaborating with the Attorney General’s office in its review of the Combination Agreement, part of which will entail public hearings held in Manchester and Nashua, which Dean and Rose point to as essential.
“In June we began an important conversation with our 6,000 employees and providers, our communities, our civic and legislative leaders and the general public, concerning the Letter of Intent between our two organizations.” says Rose. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to continuing that conversation, in seeking the public’s input and sharing our excitement about the positive benefits of Solutionhealth for SNHH, Elliot and healthcare in southern New Hampshire.”
