Cayuga Health, Arnot Health of Elmira to affiliate

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cayuga Health System, based in Ithaca, and Arnot Health, Inc., of Elmira, on Monday announced plans to affiliate.

The health-care systems on April 14 first announced that they were “exploring a collaborative relationship that would mutually benefit the communities they serve.”

On Monday, the boards of directors of Arnot Health and Cayuga Health System declared they are now seeking state regulatory approval to affiliate as members of a parent company. Under this new structure, each system will remain intact and serve their local communities, Cayuga Health said.

Pending approval, Dr. Martin Stallone, CEO of Cayuga Health, will serve as the CEO of the parent organization. Jonathan Lawrence, CEO of Arnot Health, will serve as the executive VP.

After completing a period of study, Arnot Health and Cayuga Health expect their collaboration will “improve access” to medical services in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions. The affiliation will also “assure vital services are delivered by an organization focused on benefiting local communities.”

“As Cayuga Health grows and the landscape of healthcare changes, we are eager to find new ways to nurture and enhance community-based health care services. Our study with Arnot Health uncovered innumerable ways a collaboration could improve the health care delivered across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions,” Stallone said in a statement. “We look forward to moving into the next phase of this process with New York State.”