The proposed Partners HealthCare takeover of Care New England is on hold as Boston-based Partners demands to see indications that the money-losing Rhode Island hospital chain can break even soon and head for a 1-2 percent operating margin. Care New England’s bond rating was recently downgraded after the chain reportedly lost $46 million during this fiscal year.

And so Lifespan, Rhode Island’s biggest hospital group, said it’s open again to considering taking over Care New England, about which there have been serious negotiations in recent years.

Last year, Care New England discussed merging with Southcoast Health System, in southeastern Massachusetts, but the talks fell through.

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