MARSHALL — An Avera Health spokesperson on Thursday confirmed the health care provider has been holding talks with CentraCare/Carris Health involving “many issues.”

“Avera and CentraCare/Carris Health regularly get together to have conversations about many issues of common interest. These conversations have been ongoing and will continue into the future,” said Jay Gravholt, director of media relations for Avera Health.

Avera operates Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Marshall. Affiliated Community Medical Centers, which also operates a Marshall facility, officially became part of the new non-profit health care system called Carris Health on Jan. 1. That system brought together CentraCare, a health care system based in central Minnesota, with ACMC and Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

The Independent did reach out to Carris Health, but a company spokesperson said the Avera statement would be the official response to any speculations involving the two entities.

In January, Carris Health officials said becoming a subsidiary of CentraCare would help give their health system access to more resources, and enhance health care in the region. Carris health has also been part of ongoing changes in area health care. This spring, the city of Redwood Falls and Redwood Area Hospital announced they were in talks to transfer ownership of the hospital to Carris Health.

Carris Health also operated a clinic in Granite Falls and plans to sell the clinic to Granite Falls Health were recently finalized. The Carris Health Clinic in Granite Falls will become part of Granite Falls Health effective July 1.

Carris Health, as ACMC, has a history in Marshall going back more than 25 years. ACMC opened a standalone clinic on Carlson Street in 2013. A surgery center opened in 2015.