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V O L . X X I N O. X M AY 1 8 , 2 0 1 5 6 Report: Hannaford owner mulls merger e parent company of Scarborough- based Hannaford Supermarkets is considering a merger with another European company that has a large presence in New England. e Portland Press Herald reported that Belgium- based Delhaize Group confirmed on May 12 that it is in the preliminary stages of exploring a merger with Netherlands-based Royal Ahold NV, which owns the Stop & Shop super- market chain. "ese discussions may or may not result in a future transac- tion," Delhaize said in a press release. "e company will communicate mate- rial updates, if any, in accordance with regulatory requirements." Maine farmers markets see major increase e number of outdoor farmers mar- kets in Maine has doubled in the last eight years, according to data from the state. e Maine Public Broadcasting Network reported that Maine has over 125 farmers markets, an increase from 100 in 2012 and 63 in 2007. Maine Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb said the direct-to- market approach is allowing farmers to avoid sharing profits with dealers and distributors, he said. PUC votes to keep energy forecasts secret e Maine Public Utilities Commission has voted to keep secret the price-pro- jection models that are used to deter- mine energy contracts. e Associated Press reported that David Littell, the PUC's outgoing commissioner, had proposed to make them public, saying that keeping them secret allows Maine energy regulators to make decisions on energy contracts without public scrutiny. But Chairman Mark Vannoy and Commissioner Carlisle McLean rejected that argument, saying it would weaken the PUC's negotiating abili- ties. "e staff doesn't reveal our fore- casts to the bidders, but instead uses our forecasts in order to try to nego- tiate the best contract possible [for] Maine consumers," Vannoy said. Wind energy deal reconsidered after change at PUC A controversial vote by Maine energy regulators earlier this year has prompted renewable energy devel- oper SunEdison to end discussions over a long-term power purchasing agreement that would have pro- vided electricity to Maine utilities. e Bangor Daily News reported that the company, which bought Boston-based First Wind earlier this year, said in a recent filing that it has withdrawn its pursuit of a 25-year-old agreement that would have had Emera Maine and Central Maine Power Co. buy electric- ity from its Weaver Wind project in Hancock County. e agree- ment was initially approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission in December. But after the appoint- ment of a new commissioner in January, the PUC voted to reconsider that agreement and another one sought for NextEra's wind project in Somerset County. John LaMontagne, a spokesman for SunEdison, told the newspaper the company will now seek another buyer for the wind project's power. "SunEdison had hoped the PUC would execute the negotiated contract to deliver clean energy at a very competitive price to Maine B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E AHEAD OF THE CURVE. We're pleased to announce being ranked as one of Law360's "100 Best Law Firms for Female Attorneys" in 2015. Bernstein Shur seeks the best and brightest talent and is proud to employ diverse, exceptional attorneys committed to innovation and achieving the highest level of professional excellence. Here's to the women paving the way in our legal community. Portland, ME | Augusta, ME | Manchester, NH | 207 774-1200 | bernsteinshur.com 11 Maine hospitals earn 'A' grade in national report The Maine Health Management Coalition has released updated hospital safety scores for 18 Maine hospitals that have been assigned by The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit organization representing employers and purchasers of health care. In Maine, 11 hospitals received an "A," the highest score. Seven of those hospitals have received straight A's since the inception of the score in 2012. Maine ranks No. 1 for the highest percentage of top-ranked hospitals under The Leapfrog Group's review of 2,500 general hospitals in the United States. Scores are based on how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm, including accidents, injuries and infections. Nationwide, hospital errors are the third-leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. The 11 Maine hospitals receiving an 'A' grade are: Cary Medical Center Central Maine Medical Center Eastern Maine Medical Center Franklin Memorial Hospital Inland Hospital Maine Coast Memorial Hospital Mid Coast Hospital Pen Bay Medical Center SMHC Biddeford Medical Center St. Mary's Regional Medical Center of Maine York Hospital The Aroostook Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, Parkview Adventist Medical Center, Mercy Hospital and SMHC Sanford Medical Center received "B" grades. MaineGeneral Medical Center and Maine Medical Center received "C" grades. For the first time, Leapfrog's hospital safety score includes past grades alongside current grades on the website so that patients can determine which institutions consistently achieve high standards of safety and have shown con- tinued improvement. The scores are published each spring and fall. "Keeping an eye on your local hospital's scores over time makes it easier to spot patterns — whether a hospital is working to improve or if it's allowed its focus on safety to slip," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog, which administers the program. "We want to turn patients into savvy health care shoppers by enabling them to take an active role in selecting a hospital. We all deserve to be in the safest hospital possible, and those include the 'A' hospitals in Maine." "Hospitals must consistently demonstrate their capability to prevent harm in order to earn the trust of their patients," Andy Webber, CEO of Maine Health Management Coalition, said in an anouncement about the safety rankings. Maine Health Management Coalition is a nonprofit based in Topsham with more than 60 members that include public and private employers, hospitals, health plans and doctors working together to measure and report health care value.

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