U.S. Hospital M&A Trends, 1H 2019

U.S. Hospital M&A Trends, 1H 2019

It’s been a slow year for hospital mergers and acquisitions in the United States. In the first half of 2019, just 29 transactions have reached the definitive agreement stage, or actually closed. In the first half of 2018, 38 transactions made that cut. The targets are much smaller in 2019, too. A total of 4,991 beds changed hands in the first six months of this year, compared with 9,327 beds in the same period in 2018. Fourteen not-for-profit hospitals or systems (2,380 beds combined) were targets in 1H:19, and three of them were critical access hospitals which are regulated to just 25 beds. That’s not a stand-out trend, considering six critical access hospitals found new... Read More »
U.S. Hospital M&A Trends, 1H 2019

Dignity Health and CHI Make It Official

Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, two major not-for-profit health systems, signed a letter of intent to explore a merger in October 2016, and finally tied the knot in December. Although Catholic Health is the larger of the two, with 101 hospitals, its financial picture isn’t a rosy as its partner’s. Dignity Health, based in San Francisco, is a 22-state network of more than 9,000 physicians and other advanced practice clinicans and 63,000 employees. It operates 39 acute-care hospitals and 250 ancillary care sites such as urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health and primary care clinics. In fiscal 2017, which ended on June 30, it reported revenue... Read More »

Rehab Deals Have Risen Steadily Since 2013

The rehabilitation has historically been the smallest of all the healthcare sectors, typically accounting for the fewest number of deals and lowest dollar volume. Despite an abnormal 27 transactions announced in 2008, the sector generally saw between 10 and 20 deals a year, and minimal spending as well, (see chart below). Even after the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, when most health care services saw an influx in investment, the rehabilitation sector was largely ignored because some reimbursement headwinds at the time. But, as rehab facilities found their place in ACOs, reimbursement eased and large companies began to build their platforms in the highly fragmented sector,... Read More »
Rehabilitation Deals Gained Strength in 2016

Rehabilitation Deals Gained Strength in 2016

Mergers and acquisitions in the Rehabilitation sector continued the climb that began in 2014, with a 21% increase in deal volume since 2015. Mergers and acquisitions in the Rehabilitation sector continued the climb that began in 2014. A total of 40 deals were announced in 2016, up 21% compared with the year before, and 90% higher than in 2014. This fragmented sector has benefited from the growing emphasis on post-acute care and cost efficiencies, similar to the Home Health sector. Like physician medical groups, targets in this sector tend to be small, privately held operations and their acquisitions aren’t always publicly announced. For that reason, the data may underrepresent the... Read More »

What U.S. Hospitals Are Acquiring in 2016

Hospital acquisitions have surged since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. That year, 76 deals were announced, with a U.S. hospital or health system as a target. By 2012, 107 transactions were recorded for hospital targets, and that still stands as the highest number of deals per year. Only 2015 came close, with 102 hospital transactions. Through mid-November, there have been 79 deals announced with U.S. hospitals or health systems as the target. But what are U.S. hospitals acquiring for their own financial health? Other hospitals or health systems make up the majority of targets every year, of course.  So far this year, through mid November, 66 transactions... Read More »