2 major treatment centers to merge

Published 9:01 am Wednesday, September 25, 2013

CENTER CITY — Two of the country’s leading addiction treatment centers have agreed to merge.

The agreement between Minnesota-based Hazelden and California’s Betty Ford Center was announced Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.

The new entity, under a combined board, will be named the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Hazelden will also rename its Women’s Recovery Center in Minnesota to honor former first lady Betty Ford.

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A joint statement from the centers said integrating the two organizations gives them broader geographic reach as the new federal health care law is implemented.

If regulators approve, officials expect the deal to be complete by the end of the year.

Hazelden is based in Center City. The Betty Ford Center is in Rancho Mirage, Calif.