St. Louis-based Ascension has completed the sale of Lourdes Health Network in Pasco, Wash., to Brentwood, Tenn.-based RCCH HealthCare Partners, which is owned by private equity firm Apollo Global Management, according to the Tri-City Herald.  By Ayla Ellison - 9/4/18

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce wants to know more about how hospital consolidation is affecting the costs of care for patients and the Medicare program.  By Emily Rappleye - 9/4/18

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health for $1.5 billion, the systems announced Aug. 31.  By Alyssa Rege - 9/4/18

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare expanded its Gulf Coast Division with the addition of North Cypress Medical Center, a 139-bed hospital in Houston.  By Ayla Ellison - 9/4/18

The Massillon (Ohio) city council selected an organization to operate the former Massillon-based Affinity Medical Center Aug. 29, according to the timesreporter.com.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/31/18

One of the biggest inflators of medical costs in 2019 will be hospital megamergers, a new analysis by PwC's Health Research Institute suggests.  By Alia Paavola - 8/31/18

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health is reportedly on track to announce merger plans with a Chicago-based system by the end of the year. While the system's identity has not been revealed, some experts told the Chicago Tribune which system they believe may be under consideration.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/31/18

The Sitka (Alaska) Assembly voted Aug. 28 to approve entering into negotiations with the Juneau-based Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium to assume control of Sitka Community Hospital, KCAW reports.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/30/18

After months of negotiations, New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System and LSU New Orleans finalized a deal to assume operations at two of the state's safety-net hospitals, according to the News Star.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/30/18

Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System, which recently revealed plans to rebrand to AdventHealth, and 44-bed Ransom Memorial Health signed a letter of intent to affiliate Aug. 29.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/30/18

Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway, W.Va., has signed a letter of intent to joint Morgantown-based West Virginia University Health System.  By Ayla Ellison - 8/29/18

Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health, said the health system is on track to expand into several areas — including Chicago and Minnesota — and aims to announce certain merger plans by the end of 2018, according to SiouxFalls.Business.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/29/18

After failed partnership negotiations with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System, East Jefferson General Hospital must find a partnership organization or face a tough time meeting the needs of patients as a standalone facility, according to Fox 8 News.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/29/18

Local residents and town council members spoke out against Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare's plans to potentially close The Hospital of Central Connecticut's Bradley Memorial Campus in Southington, Conn., according to myrecordjournal.com.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/29/18

The following healthcare mergers, acquisitions, partnerships and general transactions took place or were announced during the week of Aug. 20:  By Alyssa Rege - 8/28/18

Private equity firm Apollo Global Management reportedly withdrew its offer and ended negotiations to purchase Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Health before eventually finalizing a deal to acquire the 68-hospital system for $5.6 billion including debt, the Nashville Post reports.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/28/18

Amid financial woes, Huntsville (Texas) Memorial Hospital is actively searching for a health system partner to help finance various improvement projects, according to a KBTX news report.  By Alia Paavola - 8/27/18

Nurses and healthcare advocates expressed concern over the proposed merger between San Francisco-based Dignity Health and Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives and its effect on their pensions and patients' access to care during a public meeting Aug. 23, the San Francisco Examiner reports.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/24/18

Either St. Louis-based SSM Health or the University of Missouri Health Care in Columbia have the option to terminate negotiations if they cannot reach a deal regarding the sale of two hospitals by Sept. 30, according to transaction documents obtained by ABC 17 News.  By Alyssa Rege - 8/24/18

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System has ended partnership talks with Metairie, La.-based East Jefferson General Hospital less than two weeks after Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare dropped out of the running to partner with the hospital, according to WWL-TV.  By Ayla Ellison - 8/23/18