BISMARCK, N.D. — Two large health care providers in the Dakotas have taken another step toward a possible merger.
Medcenter One and Sanford Health announced Monday that they have signed a letter of intent and a memorandum of understanding and are moving forward with discussions. Both agreements are non-binding.
Medcenter is based in the North Dakota capital of Bismarck. Sanford is headquartered in Fargo, N.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D. Officials confirmed early this year that they had started exploratory talks.
If a merger happens it would be the biggest for Sanford since then-Sioux Falls-based company combined with Fargo-based Meritcare in 2009, creating the new Sanford Health that has a presence in more than 100 communities in eight states.