OSF and Rockford Health Systems End Merger Plans

Faced with an unfavorable court ruling, OSF Healthcare System and Rockford Health System decided Thursday to end their plans to try to merge. A federal court judge in Rockford recently issued a preliminary injunction barring the merger temporarily. Citing that ruling, the two health organizations Thursday said they reassessed their positions and notified the FTC, which had challenged the merger of their change of heart. In a news release, the health care groups say fighting the FTC in this matter would have been time consuming and costly. Despite their decision, both organizations say they remain confident their merger is consistent with the mandate presented by health care reform.