SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California has approved the merger of two nonprofit hospital organizations, one of which is the co-parent of Colorado’s Centura Health hospitals, officials announced Wednesday.

Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), based in Arapahoe County, and San Francisco-based Dignity Health will become a new company called CommonSpirit Health, the state Department of Justice said. It will operate nearly 140 hospitals in 16 states.

In Colorado, Centennial-based Centura Health is a joint venture of CHI and Florida’s Adventist Health System.

It operates several hospitals in Colorado, including Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, Littleton Adventist Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood and Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, plus two in Kansas.

Operating conditions include programs to help homeless people and other vulnerable populations, according to the state Justice Department, which supervises California’s charitable organizations.

The new firm will allocate $20 million over six years to establish coordination with local charities and city and county social services.

CommonSpirit Health will be required to “preserve the accessibility and availability” of services to communities that have long been served by Dignity Health facilities, according to a release announcing the merger.

In addition, the company must include protections for individuals in need of financial help.

Dignity announced its intention to merge with CHI nearly a year ago. The Vatican, through its archbishops in Denver and San Francisco, approved the merger.

The state’s approval came after officials attended 17 public meetings across California and considered over 500 written comments, the release said.