ScribeAmerica Inks Another Medical Scribe Deal

ScribeAmerica Inks Another Medical Scribe Deal

ScribeAmerica, a subsidiary of HealthChannels, announced its acquisition of PhysAssist Medical Scribes on November 1, bringing its total number of scribes close to 19,000. In 2008, PhysAssist had two corporate employees and 35 scribes. A year after TeamHealth Holdings acquired it in October 2014 with minority investors Vesey Street Capital Partners and Chicago Growth Partners, it had 2,500 professionals in 30 states. It now has approximately 3,500 scribes in 36 states. Moody’s Investors Service rated the $160 million debt-financed acquisition as credit negative, because it would increase the company’s financial leverage and elevate integration risk. The transaction, including... Read More »

2017’s Next Healthcare Trend: Go-Private Deals

Every year has its trends. In 2017, we’ve reported on mass consolidation of CROs and Physician Medical Groups, and a dip in pharmaceutical M&A, to name a few. Another trend we’ve observed is the large amount of going-private transactions in healthcare. In the first six months of 2017, 44 going-private transactions were announced, a 38% increase from 2016 and a 91% increase from 2015. In 2017, 45% of the 44 going-private transactions were initiated by financial buyers, and an additional 21% were announced by private equity-sponsored companies making add-on acquisitions. In 2016, 26% of these deals were initiated by financial buyers, and another 19% were PE-sponsored add-on... Read More »

What Private Equity Firms Are Buying in 2016

Private equity’s success relies upon forward-looking expectations about which firms are best positioned to capitalize on market conditions. The healthcare market poses unique challenges. Although healthcare targets may have the profit opportunities that appeal to PE firms, the volatile legislative and reimbursement environment can turn a “smart bet” into an albatross. A recent report from McKinsey & Company on private equity and healthcare showed that healthcare investments returned the highest global total returns to shareholders (15% between 2010 and 2015). The consumer staples category came closest to that return, with 13% in the same time period. Within the healthcare market,... Read More »

Physician Medical Group Sector Heats Up

Ten months into the year, and only two healthcare sectors have posted gains compared with 2015 totals. On the technology side, it’s eHealth, where deal volume is up 10% through the end of October, to 139 transactions. On the services side, it’s Physician Medical Groups. Deal volume now stands at 102 transactions, a 13% increase over last year’s 90 deals. (See chart below.) The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is one factor behind the increase in physician practice acquisitions. Although the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services eased some rules regarding data reporting periods, timing and payment options, the law still calls for smaller practices to have digital... Read More »

MEDNAX and Team Health Keep Growing

TeamHealth Holdings (NYSE: TMH) is slowly getting back in its M&A groove, after the $1.6 billion acquisition of IPC Healthcare in August 2015. The company announced its second deal in 2016 on June 1, compared with four transactions announced in the first half of 2015. The latest target is Tri-City Emergency Medical Group in Oceanside, California. Tri-City Emergency Medical Group’s 25 physicians provide emergency medical care in north San Diego, treating approximately 70,000 patients annually through staffing and management of the Tri-City Medical Center emergency department. Financial terms were not disclosed. Meanwhile, MEDNAX (NYSE: MD) is keeping up with its 2015 acquisition... Read More »