HEALTH

American Medical Response to Acquire STAT Healthcare: Under the definitive agreement, Aurora, Colo.-based American Medical Response Inc., a major ambulance service provider, would offer 0.25 share of its stock for each STAT common share in a tax-free pooling of interests, a deal valued at $145-million. American Medical would issue about 4 million shares based on the exchange ratio, it said. Houston-based STAT Healthcare Inc. provides contract management services to physician groups that staff the emergency departments of 24 hospitals. STAT services are expected to generate about $35 million in revenue in 1996 for the merged company. American Medical said it plans to continue acquiring ambulance firms and other related health-care companies.