Health Care

The merger of UMass Memorial - HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster and UMass Memorial - Clinton and a proposed emergency department expansion were both approved yesterday by the Massachusetts Public Health Council, the healthcare system announced Thursday.

Milford Regional Medical Center will open a new blood donation center on Feb. 22, increasing blood drive capacity at the hospital.

Walden Behavioral Care, an eating disorder treatment provider with operations in Central Massachusetts, has acquired an Atlanta company specializing in the same area of medicine.

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission will not conduct a formal review of a proposed joint venture between UMass Memorial Health Care and ATI Physical Therapy Services.

The use of community hospitals, setting targets for reducing hospital readmissions and monitoring drug prescribing patterns are among Health Policy Commission recommendations.

Profit-driven health care is a growing local and national trend that doesn't necessarily carry ill effects.

Any business offering a similar at a lower price will almost always succeed in the marketplace. Sure, mitigating factors like taxes, regulation and global competition can throw a company off-track; but for services inherently local – like health care – quality and efficiency are central to a winning formula.

Massachusetts lawmakers steamrolled Gov. Charlie Baker's veto of pay raise legislation Thursday, delivering big salary increases for themselves, six statewide constitutional officers, and scores of judges.

Gardner-based Heywood Healthcare last week celebrated the upcoming opening of the first phase of the Quabbin Retreat Project.

Executives at the Hartford-based health insurer Aetna have been discussing the possibility of relocating to Massachusetts with Gov. Charlie Baker's administration, according to a report Tuesday.