Detroit Today: Henry Ford’s new partnership has some concerned
Henry Ford Health and Ascension Michigan announced a new partnership last week that would dramatically reshape health care locally.
Last week, Detroit-based Henry Ford Health and Ascension Michigan announced a new partnership, which they described as a “joint venture.”
As two of the largest healthcare providers in Michigan, the proposed partnership would dramatically reshape health care locally, with the potential to corner 43% of the southeast Michigan market, according to one market analyst’s report.
It’s just the latest in a series of partnerships and mergers we’re seeing in the hospital market nationwide. But how has this trend affected costs and care in the industry? Christopher Garmon, assistant professor of health administration at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, joined Detroit Today on Wednesday to discuss the deal and how it will affect Michiganders.
Subscribe to Detroit Today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
Guest:
Christopher Garmon is the assistant professor of health administration at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. He says hospital mergers tend to reduce quality and limit care for patients.
“When you have competing hospitals merging and patients have fewer choices, the hospitals may think, well you know, we can ease up on quality. Where else are patients going to go?” Garmon said.
Listen to Detroit Today with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
Trusted, accurate, up-to-date.
WDET strives to make our journalism accessible to everyone. As a public media institution, we maintain our journalistic integrity through independent support from readers like you. If you value WDET as your source of news, music and conversation, please make a gift today.
