Hospital Deals Dipped in 2016

by | Jan 6, 2017 1:39 am | Hospitals

What the Affordable Care Act gave to the hospital sector, in the form of millions of more insured patients, it slowly took away, in the form of declining inpatient visits and growing competition from freestanding emergency rooms, ambulatory surgery centers and urgent care clinics. The ACA’s beneficial effects were largely played out by the third quarter of 2015, and by 2016, the thrill was gone. Hospital M&A slid slightly in 2016, according to our preliminary year-end data. Eighty-nine hospital deals were announced, down 13% compared with 2015. Spending was far higher than a year ago, reaching nearly $14 billion, a figure 47% higher than 2015’s combined total of $9.5... Read More »

Community Health Systems Starts Divesting Hospitals

by | Nov 23, 2016 4:57 pm | Home Health & Hospice, Hospitals

It’s no secret that Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH) has a $15 billion debt load, and that despite its spin-off of Quorum Health Corp. (NYSE: QHC) last April, its financial performance hasn’t improved. During the company’s third-quarter earnings call on November 1, CEO Wayne Smith said the company was in discussions to shed 17 of its 157 hospitals, as well as home health services and non-hospital real estate. The most recent deal following that call was announced on November 17. Community Health’s Spokane, Washington-based Rockwood Health System will become part of Tacoma, Washington-based MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit system that operates five... Read More »

Almost Family Inc. Becomes Third Largest Home Health Operator

by | Oct 25, 2016 6:26 pm | Home Health & Hospice, Hospitals

The Home Health Care & Hospice sector just announced its 47th acquisition of 2016, and with about two months to go, it is likely that this sector will surpass last year’s total of 51 acquisitions. On October 17, 2016, Almost Family, Inc. (NASDAQ: AFAM), a provider of home health nursing, rehabilitation and personal care services in more than 250 locations, announced its acquisition of Community Health Systems’ (NYSE: CYH) home health division. CHS’s home health business serves just about half of its hospitals, allowing the opportunity for growth into several more hospital markets. This purchase makes Almost Family the third largest operator in the industry. CHS is selling the... Read More »

Quorum Health Pares Its Rural Hospital Portfolio

by | Oct 21, 2016 6:35 pm | Hospitals

Just as the Department of Health and Human Services reported that rural hospitals are better at reducing hospital-acquired infections and score better in value-based purchasing plans, Quorum Health Corporation (NYSE: QHC) announced the sale of two of its 38 rural hospitals in October. One analyst says at least six more deals are pending. Quorum Health was spun out of the ailing Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH) in April 2016. Community Health took on more than it could handle in 2013, when it announced its $7.6 billion acquisition of Health Management Associates, then a for-profit, 71-hospital chain in 15 states. With approximately 11,000 licensed beds, the price worked... Read More »

Community Health Sells 4 Rural Hospitals

by | Sep 30, 2016 6:50 pm | Hospitals

Financially troubled Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH) announced the sale of four rural hospitals on September 28, as it tries to pare down its $15 billion in debt. And more announcements are in the works. Curae Health, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting rural healthcare services, agreed to take on the four facilities, three of which are in Mississippi and one in Florida.  They are Merit Health Gilmore Memorial (95 beds), Merit Health Batesville (112 beds), Merit Health Northwest Mississippi (181 beds) and Highlands Regional Medical Center (126 beds). In November 2014, Curae Health emerged as the owner of three rural Alabama hospitals being sold by LifePoint... Read More »