Tufts, Shields venture to proceed after HPC eschews review

Courtesy Shields Health Care Group Inc., a Quincy-based medical imaging provider, is planning a clinical affiliation with Tufts Medical Center in Boston to manage MRI services at existing sites in Dorchester and Dedham. Shields has a similar relationship with UMass Memorial Health Care of Worcester.

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By Emily Micucci

A joint venture between Tufts Medical Center in Boston and Quincy-based Shields Health Care Group Inc., is on track to proceed after the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) announced Monday it will not proceed with a formal review of the transaction.

The two providers plan to enter into a clinical affiliation to jointly manage MRI services at existing sites owned by Tufts and Shields in Dorchester and Dedham, according to documents filed by the HPC.

The HPC decision not to move forward indicates changes to healthcare cost and access aren’t expected as a result of the deal, which is set to be final on April 1. Under state law, the HPC conducts an initial review of all transactions between providers to examine the potential for increasing cost and reducing access to health care in the state, and then can move forward with a cost and market impact review, based on the findings.

Shields has similar clinical affiliations for imaging services with Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care.