425 physicians pulled from Tufts network

New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Southcoast Health System is forming its own independent doctors group, which means its 425 physicians will be leaving Tufts Medical Center’s network.

Southcoast has told Massachusetts regulators it plans to leave the Tufts’ physician contracting network, the New England Quality Care Alliance (NEQCA).

“Southcoast Health has grown significantly since originally joining NEQCA, and we now have the opportunity to continue on our journey and create a clinically integrated network for the South Coast communities,” said Southcoast spokesman Peter Cohenno, according to Boston Business Journal. “While we still have some significant issues to resolve with NEQCA as our formal relationship comes to a close, we are excited for the future and the creation of the Southcoast Health Network.”

The new entity would be known as the Southcoast Health Network. The physicians moving from the Tufts medical will include those at three hospitals: Saint Luke’s, Tobey and Charlton Memorial.

The state filing came only weeks after its proposed merger with Care New England was scrapped. The deal would’ve created the third-largest health system in Massachusetts, but both systems’ boards voted to terminate the agreement Oct. 17.

As for Tufts, the effects of the Southcoast physicians’ departure may be minimal, as it will be adding 400 doctors in 2017 from its acquisition of Hallmark.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship until the end of this year and wish [Southcoast] much success in the future,” Tufts spokeswoman Brooke Hynes said to the Boston Globe.