Area health groups to join forces?

Several area health care providers have signed non-binding letters of intent to explore future collaboration.

UnityPoint Health-Meriter and UW Health are looking to align their finances to create an integrated clinical enterprise, and align specialty care clinicians to create a “single, coordinated clinical enterprise.”

Meanwhile, Physicians Plus, Unity, and Gundersen Health Plan are looking at forming a comprehensive, sustainable, and competitive health insurance organization, according to a release.

The groups aim to sign definitive agreements later this year and implement changes in 2017.