FARGO - Leaders of Citizens for MeritCare today called on the health system to be more transparent in its merger deliberations with Sanford Health and to give full public accounting of the ramifications of a merger.
Bruce Furness, former Fargo mayor, and Jane Sinner, former North Dakota first lady, said they are not trying to block a merger, but said MeritCare is a "quasi-public" organization and has a duty to involve the public.
"They need to get input from the public because they are a public organization," Furness said.
Both Sinner and Furness are former MeritCare board members, and others in the citizens group are former MeritCare trustees or local economic development board members.
"We're not trying to derail this train," Furness said. "We're trying to slow that train down."
ADVERTISEMENT
Sinner picked up on the fast-moving train compari-son.
"We really need to see what's on the train," she said. "We need to see what's in the proposals and how it's going to affect the community."
MeritCare, based in Fargo, and Sanford, based in Sioux Falls, S.D., acknowledged June 17 they are engaged in negotiations that could result in a merge, but have divulged few details.
The parties have signed a confidentiality agreement. Sinner, who was part of a group that met earlier today with MeritCare representatives, said they were told more information would be available in the event a letter of intent is signed.
Among the group's suggestions for MeritCare's 18-member board:
- Gather more input from stakeholders, including the general public and business leaders.
- Bring in an outside, independent firm to assess and quantify the economic impact of a merger.
- Explore potential cooperation and collaboration between MeritCare and Sanford apart from a merger.
ADVERTISEMENT
- Assure local control in any merger.
- Refrain from a merger or any formal agreement until these actions are completed.
MeritCare issued a statement Thursday saying it welcomed the group's "passion" and its leaders "look forward to presenting the merit of whatever decision the board endorses."
For more on the story, see Saturday's Forum.
