A merger between Mayo Regional Hospital and Northern Light Health has cleared a major step in the process after being granted approval by the state of Maine.
Northern Light announced the Certificate of Need approval Thursday. CEO Michelle Hood says she expects the merger to be complete early this year. But there is a pending lawsuit that questions whether the deal is legal. Gerald Nessman is an attorney and board member of Mayo Regional, which is operated by 13 towns under a Hospital Administrative District.
"The goal is to make sure this is done according to law, and the rights of owners are respected."
Nessman says the communities that oversee Mayo have not been properly involved in the merger. The lawsuit was brought by the town of Cambridge and nearly three dozen district residents.
