June 14, 2016 - Federal Judge Clears the Way for Advocate NorthShore Merger
The state's top-tier health providers prevail in effort to create new model for patient-centered care

U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Alonso’s decision announced today paves the way for the creation of Advocate NorthShore Health Partners (ANHP) by denying the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request to block the merger. ANHP will create an innovative care delivery model focused on expanding access, unifying quality and lowering overall cost of care for patients.

“Judge Alonso’s decision reaffirmed what we have wholeheartedly believed since day one —this merger is a big win for consumers and for health care in our country as the shift to value takes hold,” said Jim Skogsbergh, Advocate’s President and CEO. “We look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work together to deliver on our commitment of making health care more affordable while raising the standard of care.”

ANHP combines two health systems recognized nationally for delivering top quality health care. Advocate is consistently named among the top five large health systems in the U.S. based on quality and efficiency, ranked among the largest Accountable Care Organizations in the nation and leads the way in population health management and clinical integration.

Likewise, NorthShore University HealthSystem’s (NorthShore) reputation and excellence in quality, safety, clinical expertise, and translational research have made it a formidable leader. NorthShore was among the first in the U.S. to successfully launch a system-wide electronic medical record, lauded by healthcare institutions nationwide.

“We believe that by bringing together our two very strong and complementary institutions we are creating a patient-centered ‘system of systems’ that will deliver exceptional care and unprecedented access for those who matter most – our patients,” said Mark Neaman, NorthShore’s President and CEO.

ANHP, the parent company for both organizations, will serve more than three million patients annually, making it the 11th largest not-for-profit health care system in the United States. Skogsbergh and Neaman will serve as co-CEOs of ANHP for a designated timeframe. The ANHP Board of Directors will be comprised of an equal number of members from both Advocate and NorthShore; and the organizations are consolidating financial statements.

Advocate and NorthShore first announced their intentions to merge in September 2014. After a 15-month review, the FTC opposed the merger in December 2015 setting the stage for a federal court hearing in April 2016, culminating in today’s decision.

Media Contacts:
Lisa Lesniak
630-929-6602
Lisa.lesniak@advocatehealth.com

Julia Sznewajs
312-755-3568
js@respublicagroup.com