Butler Health System and Clarion Healthcare System announced Thursday their merger is nearly complete.

In February, the two hospital groups revealed plans to merge after signing an exclusive letter of intent. The systems' executives now have signed a definitive agreement, and internal due diligence checks are complete, according to a joint news release.

The merger now goes for approval to Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General, as well as the Department of Health.

Once finalized, Clarion Healthcare System will be integrated into Butler Health System.

“Butler Health System did a thorough review of Clarion's finances, facilities and services,” Ken DeFurio, BHS's president and CEO said in a statement. “We are pleased that this review concluded with a successful negotiation and an agreement for Clarion Health System to join Butler Health System.”

Both DeFurio and Jana Panther, BHS's director of public relations, were out of town and unavailable for further comment Thursday, according to Anna Silverio, executive assistant at the Butler system.

BHS showed strong finances in recent years, according to data reported by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, an independent state agency responsible for addressing escalating health costs, ensuring quality health care, and increasing access for all citizens regardless of ability to pay.

Clarion Healthcare System, however, posted negative margins. According to the 2018 fiscal data reported by the council on its website, the latest three-year average operating margin for Clarion Hospital was minus 0.18 percent. In fiscal year 2018, the group operated at a minus 0.9 percent margin.

Butler Memorial Hospital's latest three-year average, on the other hand, had an operating margin that showed revenues exceeded expenditures by 15.29 percent, and in fiscal year 2018 the group operated at an 11.73 percent margin. Butler Memorial Hospital is a 326-bed acute care facility, compared to Clarion Hospital's 70-bed community hospital.

BHS includes 72 outpatient locations in eight counties and employs more than 2,500 people, including about 200 physicians and advanced providers — making it one of the largest employers in Butler County.

CHS includes Clarion Hospital, Health Services of Clarion, Clarion Development Corporation and Clarion Hospital Foundation.

In addition to a 24-hour emergency department, CHS also has an eight-bed inpatient rehab center, women's health and birthing services, advanced wound healing hyperbaric center, sleep lab, ICU and a cancer center.