Asante seeks exemption from regulatory review in Medford surgical center deal

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center is attempting to purchase Surgery Center of Southern Oregon, but the deal is stalled due to a paused review by Oregon's Health Care Market Oversight program. The program, established in 2022, reviews hospital mergers to ensure they don't increase costs or reduce patient access. Asante declined to provide requested documents, including three years of payer contracts, citing the cost and time required. The hospital argues that the surgery center is on the brink of collapse and that the deal is necessary to save it. Oregon regulators have received Asante's request for an emergency exemption, which is the third such request since the oversight program began. Asante claims that without the exemption, the surgery center may close, eliminating a potentially lower-cost provider.