HEALTH

Charter Medical Gets Clearance to Buy 30 Hospitals: The Federal Trade Commission gave Macon, Ga.-based Charter Medical Corp. permission to purchase 30 of the 47 psychiatric hospitals it seeks to acquire from Santa Monica-based National Medical Enterprises Inc., the companies said. On May 13, the agency requested more information on the transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. The companies said they are still responding to requests for further information on the 17 other sites. The request has delayed the closing of the $200-million transaction, which was announced March 30.