The MetroHealth System and Case Western Reserve University extended their education and research affiliation for another decade, the Cleveland-based organizations said July 29.

The Federal Trade Commission chair is raising concern about a merger boom in the U.S. and warning that the high volume of deals is straining agency resources, Bloomberg reported July 28. 

Lynchburg, Va.-based Centra and UVA Health in Charlottesville, Va., struck a clinical affiliation, the health systems said July 28.

There were 283 healthcare deals announced or closed this June, which exceeds previously recorded volumes, Bloomberg Law reported July 28.

Supporters of the proposed merger between Care New England Health System and Lifespan say that the deal is the "only way" to prevent several hospitals in Rhode Island from closing, the Boston Globe reported July 27.

Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Health Partners and Schenectady, N.Y.-based Ellis Medicine have paused their merger, according to a July 22 report in The Daily Gazette.

Altru Health System in Grand Forks, N.D., has approached CHI St. Alexius Health about purchasing its 25-bed critical access hospital in Devils Lake, N.D., according to the Devils Lake Journal.

Midland Memorial Hospital in Odessa, Texas, is now a joint owner of an 80-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Odessa, according to a July 22 news release.

MemorialCare, a Fountain Valley, Calif.-based health system, acquired an outpatient physical therapy provider through a joint venture with the Physical Rehabilitation Network. 

Braden Health is acquiring Decatur County General Hospital in Parsons, Tenn., according to local news station WBBJ 7.

Two New York City hospitals, Maimonides Medical Center and New York Community Hospital, combined to form a new local health network in the Brooklyn borough, the organizations said July 19. 

New York City officials are pushing for Richmond University Medical Center to become a public hospital, but the medical center is opposing the deal, according to the Staten Island Advance.

In a reversal from earlier this month, two Pennsylvania healthcare organizations have decided to submit a bid to buy the financially struggling West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. 

Rome, Ga.-based Floyd Health System has joined Charlotte, N.C., based Atrium Health, according to a July 14 news release.

Related, an affordable housing developer in the U.S., will acquire a stake in healthcare provider CareMax as part of an effort to open senior health centers in underserved urban communities, the companies said July 13.

Twelve transactions involving hospitals and health systems have been announced, finalized or advanced since July 1:

Garrett Regional Medical Center, a 55-bed hospital in Oakland, Md., will explore becoming a full member of the West Virginia University Health System in Morgantown, the hospital announced July 9. 

Philadelphia-based Temple University Hospital has finalized the purchase of the former Cancer Treatment Center of America's Philadelphia campus. 

Oregon Health & Science University in Portland will add 28 providers to its team through a deal with Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, Ore.

Merger and acquisition revenue remains high as hospitals and health systems shift  their focus to acquisitions of small, independent hospitals and regional partnerships, according to an analysis published July 8 from healthcare consulting firm Kaufman Hall.