HEALTH

Medical Buying Alliances to Merge: San Diego-based American Healthcare Systems and Premier Health Alliance, two nonprofit hospital purchasing alliances, said they will merge to form an entity that will buy supplies for more than 1,400 hospitals. The companies said the merged entity will purchase more than $8 billion of medical equipment annually for more than 1,400 community hospitals. The merger, expected to be completed in early fall, would create a for-profit corporation with equal board representation from among existing American Healthcare shareholders and Premier owners. The name of the new company is to be announced shortly. It will maintain offices in Washington, San Diego and Westchester, Ill.