2017 Is a Busy Year for Physician Medical Groups

The Physician Medical Group sector is on track for another busy year. As of July 5, 2017, 92 deals have been announced, a nearly 27% increase from the same period a year ago. And, with six months left to go in 2017, the sector is only 38 deals away from surpassing 2016’s record total of 130 deals. Envision Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: EVHC), a leading provider of physician-led outsourced medical services, announced three PMG deals in six days. Although no prices were disclosed, the acquisitions added anesthesia, emergency services, and multi-specialty clinics in Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois and Wisconsin. On June 29, Envision acquired Anesthesia Associates of New London, P.C., based in... Read More »
Envision Rebrands Its Physician Services, and the Company

Envision Rebrands Its Physician Services, and the Company

Envision Healthcare (NYSE: EVHC) officially merged with AmSurg Corp. (NYSE: AMSG) in December 2016. The $2.35 billion merger disappointed EVHC investors who were looking for a buyout by a larger company. But if they stick with EVHC, they may see some more trades soon. Envision Healthcare discussed its Q4:16 and full 2016 results on February 28, 2017. In the announcement, the now-combined company disclosed it was seeking to spin off either its medical transportation company, AMR, or its ambulatory surgery center division. Those are its smaller divisions, now that the merger is complete. The rebranded Envision Physicians Services accounted for 63% of the combined companies’ revenue of... Read More »

The MACRA Effect Keeps Building

Last year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asked for comments and then rolled out the final rules on the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). Many industry observers predicted the rules would drive the majority of independent physician practices “right into the arms” of a local hospital, health system or other entity. Those predictions appear to be true. As of mid-March 2017, 46 acquisitions of physician practices have been announced, a 105% increase from the same period a year ago. Only one of the deals disclosed a price,  Optum’s (NYSE: UNH) $3.3 billion acquisition of Surgical Care Affiliates Inc. (NASDAQ:... Read More »

December 2016 Didn’t Deliver a Year-End Boost

The final month of the fourth quarter is typically a busy one for deal makers in all industries. Last year, some health care deal makers apparently got a rest. Deal volume in December 2016 was an anemic 119 transactions, compared with 131 deals in November and 148 in December 2015. The Services sectors accounted for 55% of the deals in December, which is on the low side. Consider that, in November, Services accounted for 69% of the month’s transactions, and even 70% of the total in December 2015. Spending on those deals reached $15.4 billion, a relatively modest amount until it is compared with November’s $8.7 billion total (+78%) and December 2015’s $12.3 billion total (+26%). Suddenly,... Read More »

PMG Sector Sets Record in 2016

Mergers and acquisitions in the Physician Medical Group sector hit a record 119 transactions in 2016, up 19% over 2015’s previous record of 100 announced transactions. Consolidation was a big theme, as some of the top publicly traded companies either merged or were taken private. Another factor driving independent physician practices to team up was MACRA (the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015), which gave smaller physician practices the option to stay with fee-for-service Medicare reimbursement, or to switch to value-based payment for treating Medicare patients. The best option for many groups was to join a larger practice or the local hospital. Despite the frenzy of... Read More »