Lifespan, Care New England file merger application NBC 10 NEWS The merger between Lifespan and Care New England takes another step forward. Lifespan and CNE said Monday that they will file the Hospital Conversion Act application with the state Department of Health and the state attorney general's office. Earlier this month, Lifespan and Care New England submitted paperwork to the Federal Trade Commission. Lifespan’s network includes Rhode Island, Miriam, Hasbro, Newport and Bradley hospitals. Care New England operates Women & Infants, Kent and Butler hospitals. The Warren Alpert Medical School is part of Brown. A combination of Lifespan and Care New England has been talked about for years, but never came to fruition.