California has approved the merger of two nonprofit hospitals affiliated with the Catholic church.
The state Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives will become a new company called CommonSpirit Health.
It will operate nearly 140 hospitals in 16 states — including 30 in California.
The Justice Department, which supervises charitable organizations, says operating conditions include programs to help homeless people and other vulnerable populations.
The new firm will allocate $20 million over six years to establish coordination with local charities and city and county social services.
San Francisco-based Dignity announced its intention to merge with Colorado's CHI nearly a year ago. The Vatican, through its archbishops in Denver and San Francisco, approved the merger.