Here's another New Jersey community hospital seeking a merger

St. Peter's University Hospital in New Brunswick is searching for a merger partner. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media) Patti Sapone / The Star Ledger landmark new brunswick SL

The last independent hospital in Middlesex County announced Tuesday it wants to explore a partnership to preserve its "Catholic mission and identity" while competing in an aggressive market that has spawned a flurry of mergers in the last decade.

The announcement by Leslie D. Hirsch, interim CEO and president of Saint Peter's Healthcare System, comes as no surprise. Saint Peter's is surrounded by two hospitals owned RWJBarnabas Health in New Brunswick and Somerville, and three operated by Hackensack Meridian Health in Edison, Old Bridge and Perth Amboy.

These mergers have allowed the hospital chains to amass power in negotiations with insurance carriers and self-insured employers. Saint Peter's is suing Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey for requiring OMNIA plan policy holders to pay more to use the hospital.

"We have an obligation to be good stewards in planning for Saint Peter's future," Hirsch said in a statement released late Tuesday.

"Through the Request-for-Proposals process, we will evaluate possible options, with a focus on finding a strategic partner or affiliate that would allow Saint Peter's to retain its Catholic mission and identity, remain competitive in the changing healthcare environment, and yield the best possible outcome for its patients, employees, medical staff and communities we serve."

The hospital's board of governors and senior leadership and the Diocese of Metuchen Bishop James F. Checchio, support the search for a "partnership" or "affiliation," Hirsch said.

The health care system consists of a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital, a children's hospital and regional perinatal center, the Saint Peter's Foundation, the Saint Peter's Health and Management Services Corp. which oversees outpatient facilities, and Saint Peter's Physician Associates, a network of primary and specialty care physician practices.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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