HEALTHCARE ACQUISITION

A decade ago, most doctors ran their own clinics. Today, over half work for large hospital networks instead. That change didn't happen by accident—hospitals bought up countless small practices. The big question is whether this shift helps patients or just raises costs. Most of the time, prices for

Allina Health, a big medical group based in Minneapolis, has been negotiating with its doctors’ union for more than two years. The union represents over 600 medical staff, including physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. In early April, the parties announced a tentative first cont