N.J., Pa. hospital systems unite to form largest U.S. healthcare alliance

Several hospital systems in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are forming what will possibly be the largest healthcare alliance in the country. The alliance, called AllSpire Health Partners, will enable member institutions to save costs and share medical expertise, the hospital systems said last week. The alliance will include Hackensack University Health Network and Meridian Health in New Jersey; and Lehigh Valley Health Network, Lancaster General Health, Reading Health System, and WellSpan Health, of Pennsylvania. The combined systems include 25 hospitals and at least five affiliate hospitals, with annual revenue of $10.5 billion. AllSpire is not a merger or an acquisition, and will not cause employee layoffs or hospitals closures, but the alliance hopes to cut costs by 3% to 4% over the next few years, officials said.