Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health on Friday announced the completion of their merger, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from New York, North Carolina, and Ohio.

• New York: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday announced that roughly 8 million Laundress brand laundry and cleaning products were recalled over bacterial contamination concerns. The recall affects laundry detergent, fabric softener, fabric shampoo, conditioners, and other cleaning products manufactured between January 2021 and September 2022. According to the recall, the affected products may contain bacteria commonly found in soil and water that can lead to infections in people, particularly those with weak immune systems. "People with weakened immune systems, external medical devices, and underlying lung conditions who are exposed to the bacteria face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment," CPSC said. "The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, or through the eyes or a break in the skin." So far, there have been 11 reports of consumers with bacterial infections. Laundress said it is currently investigating whether the infections are connected to the recalled products. "We are undertaking decisive steps with our suppliers to ensure production processes meet our safety and quality standards," the company said. (Rubin, New York Times, 12/3)

• North Carolina: Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health on Friday announced the completion of their merger, forming a health system with over $27 billion in annual revenue, 67 hospitals, and almost 150,000 employees. The combined organization, called Advocate Health, includes facilities in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. According to Advocate, the merger makes it the country's fifth-largest nonprofit health system by revenue. While the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board initially denied the merger over concerns about the control of several Illinois hospitals, it ultimately signed off on the transaction last month. On Friday, the office of North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) said the state has no plans to take action against the merger because it lacks "legal basis within the office's limited statutory authority to attempt to prevent the Atrium-Advocate Aurora transaction." (Kacik, Modern Healthcare, 12/2)

• Ohio: Early last month, the city council in Toledo voted to allocate $800,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funding to erase medical debt for residents in need. For the initiative, the city is partnering with an organization called RIP Medical Debt. In addition, Lucas County pledged to match the city's contribution for a total of $1.6 million toward clearing medical debt. "I think this is going to help a lot of people with putting food back on the table, paying the rent, paying your utilities, help them go back to the doctor," said Michele Grim, Toledo city councilwoman and state representative-elect, who led the push for the program. Officials expect to use the $1.6 million to help erase $240 million worth of debt, Grim said. According to a spokesperson for Lucas County, it is "currently pursuing the funding source." (Putka, MedPage Today, 11/30)