In June 2014, former Massachusetts AG Martha Coakley reached a controversial consent decree in with Partners Healthcare that would allow the provider to acquire three Boston hospitals. Opponents, including Coakley’s successor, Maura Healy, raised concerns that the deal would cause anticompetitive effects, including higher health care prices. In January 2015, the superior court rejected the consent agreement after Healy’s office filed a letter expressing concerns about the deal. In February 2015, Partners Healthcare abandoned its attempt to take over one of the Boston hospitals, South Shore Hospital. In December 2015, Partners also gave up on its bid to acquire a second Boston hospital, Hallmark Health System. Read our blog post for more details.