A state board has blocked plans by Advocate Aurora Health to combine with Southern system Atrium Health
Advocate could ask the board to reconsider the vote at its next meeting, so it’s possible the union could still proceed. But the denial is a roadblock for the deal, which system leaders have said they hope to close this year.to create one of the largest health systems in the country, with 67 hospitals and more than 1,000 sites of care across six states.
Advocate submitted applications earlier this year for the change to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review board, which typically must approve hospital mergers and sales. The board, on Tuesday, voted 3-2, not to approve the applications.
Some, however, had expressed opposition to the union in recent months, including the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Illinois, which worried it would reduce the quality of health care in the Chicago area while increasing costs. Also, after the deal was announced, a lawsuit was filed in May accusing Advocate Aurora of anti-competitive conduct, including suppressing competition and raising prices in Wisconsin.
Advocate Aurora President and CEO Jim Skogsbergh previously told the Tribune the new Advocate would have headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, though workers at the current headquarters in Downers Grove and Milwaukee would not be expected to move. Many of those workers are already remote, and it’s not expected that anyone will be laid off because of the deal, Skogsbergh said. Systems leaders said the combination would lead to 20,000 additional jobs.