This just in from Boston Business Journal:

“Southcoast Health System Inc. {serving large parts of southeastern Massachusetts} has announced merger discussions with {Rhode Island-based} Care New England, a deal that would create one of New England’s largest non-profit health care systems.

“The two organizations have signed a letter of intent to begin discussions forming a new non-for-profit parent organization that would oversee both systems, a setup that seems similar to that of Tufts Medical Center and Lowell General’s merger under parent company Wellforce. No financial details have been disclosed.”