Disputes Over Reproductive Health Issues Jeopardize Conn. Hospital Merger

September 7, 2012 — A stalled merger of two Connecticut hospitals has been further delayed by a state commission's rejection of a plan to address concerns about women's health services, the Hartford Courant reports.

The proposed merger between St. Mary's Hospital -- a Catholic facility -- and Waterbury Hospital -- a secular hospital -- was initially rejected by the Catholic Church because Waterbury performed tubal ligations. The procedure, which blocks the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy, is banned in Catholic-affiliated hospitals.

Earlier this summer, Waterbury officials proposed creating a stand-alone facility to perform tubal ligation procedures. Chad Wable, CEO of St. Mary's hospital, said the Catholic officials have endorsed such a facility.

However, the state's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women rejected the plan because the stand-alone facility would not be equipped to handle women who are considered "high-risk."

Darlene Stromstad, CEO of Waterbury, said that although the hospital understands both parties' concerns, it would be "cost prohibitive" to create a stand-alone facility that "can do everything for everybody."

Under the proposed merger, the two not-for-profit hospitals would be combined into a for-profit facility that would be 80% owned by LHP Hospital Group of Plano, Texas (Weir, Hartford Courant, 9/5).