HEALTH

Surgical Care Affiliates May Withdraw Merger Offer: The company, which calls itself the nation’s second-largest outpatient surgery firm, said it will withdraw its $900-million merger offer made in October to Medical Care America Inc., which is larger, unless the Dallas company agrees to a meeting by Dec. 7. Medical Care America executives rejected the 1.35 shares of Surgical Care Affiliates for each share of their company. But large shareholders of Medical Care America pressed management to at least listen to Surgical Care Affiliates. Last week, Surgical Care Affiliates said it would not sweeten the bid without examining the larger company’s books. Jonathan R. Bond, Medical Care America’s senior vice president, said his company was “not yet in a position to comment.”