Attorney General Neronha reaches agreement with Brown Health to dramatically increase primary care patient capacity

Attorney General Neronha reaches agreement with Brown Health to dramatically increase primary care patient capacity

Published on Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced his decision to conditionally suspend the Office's investigation into the merger between Brown University Health's physician organization, Brown Health Medical Group (BHMG), and Brown Physicians Inc. under the Office's antitrust review authority. As part of the conditions set forth in the agreement, Brown University Health has agreed to take on 40,000 new patients and hire up to 27 new primary care providers (PCPs), among other stipulations that will increase access to primary care for Rhode Islanders and will ensure physicians are better supported and compensated.

"Our healthcare system is in crisis, and Rhode Islanders know it," said Attorney General Neronha. "They know that they can't find a primary care doctor or other provider, or when they can, they have to wait months for an appointment. They have been failed by commercial insurers, who have not done enough to build adequate provider networks. This despite insurers receiving authorization from the McKee Administration for 50% increases over the past five years in the amounts they charge nearly 20% of Rhode Islanders for health insurance. Finally, Rhode Islanders have been failed by leaders in government who have been unable or unwilling to increase primary care reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare.

"But this Office has broad antitrust authority and other powers, and where we can use those powers to help Rhode Islanders with their most significant problems, we will continue to do so. Today, we announce that we have used our antitrust authority to require that Brown University Health, as a condition of bringing Brown Physicians Inc. into their fold, add 40,000 new Rhode Island patients to their primary care rolls. What's more: these 40,000 new primary care patients will receive an appointment within 14 days. These commitments will take time to scale up, as they require vigorous recruitment and retention efforts by Brown Health. But they must meet our targets, and I am confident that today's agreement means real progress in solving our primary care provider crisis."

In the fall of 2024, the Office initiated an investigation under its antitrust authority into the proposed merger of Brown Health Medical Group and Brown Physicians Inc. to determine whether such a merger would substantially lessen competition in Rhode Island's health care marketplace. This authority allows this Office to prevent such a merger or acquisition, or, as in this case, allow the transaction to move forward with conditions.

After a lengthy and in-depth review, the Office reached an agreement with Brown University Health to conditionally suspend its investigation into the proposed merger subject to stringent conditions and reporting requirements to protect and expand access to primary care and other health care services. The agreement allows for the Office to reopen the investigation should Brown University Health fail to meet the conditions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Brown University Health will:

• Take on 40,000 new primary care patients by December 31, 2029 with priority given to patients who are currently without a primary care provider. This condition is subject to a limited exception under which the Office may deem the condition to be met earlier if BHMG adds 30,000 new primary care patients by December 31, 2028 and demonstrates that every primary care patient that contacts BHMG can obtain a new patient visit in the patient's vicinity within 14 days.
• Hire the appropriate number of PCPs to accommodate these additional patients. Brown University Health estimates that at least 27 PCPs will be needed and has agreed to hire at least 15 additional primary care providers by December 2027, along with the appropriate support staff to accommodate the new patients and providers.
• Employ primary care providers at a 1:1 ratio with advanced practice providers (APPs) through December 31, 2028 to ensure adequate provider support and patient access.
• Make best efforts to ensure these new prospective primary care patients have an appointment available to them within 14 days.
• Allow PCPs to continue to elect their preferred patient panel size and whether the provider is full or part time.
• Continuously review and monitor its PCP compensation structure to ensure it is competitive with neighboring states.
• Invest in Electronic Medical Record technology and support for PCPs to address the burden of documentation and other administrative tasks associated with the increase in providers and patients. Brown University Health will also assist PCPs in transitioning all records and onboarding new and existing patients into the system.
• Produce and submit bi-annual reports to the Office for five years, including closing reporting on or before February 1, 2031, to ensure compliance with this agreement and demonstrate the implementation and impact of Brown University Health's primary care commitment.

To read the full agreement and to learn more about the Office's other health care initiatives, please visit our website.

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