From a new health system forming in Oklahoma to Prime Healthcare ending discussions to acquire two Rhode Island hospitals, here are four hospital M&A moves that Becker’s reported during the week of Dec. 1:
1. Prime Healthcare Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare, decided not to pursue the acquisition of two Rhode Island hospitals owned by bankrupt Prospect Medical Holdings.
Prime was approached by Rhode Island officials in November regarding the potential purchase of North Providence-based Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Providence-based Roger Williams Medical Center. In February, Los Angeles-based Prospect received approval from a Texas federal bankruptcy judge to sell the hospitals to The Centurion Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit. However, the foundation has been unable to secure the bonds needed to finance the purchase.
Centurion said in a Dec. 1 court filing that it remains “steadfastly” committed to completing the transaction. The foundation said Bank of America Securities has joined Barclays as a co-placement agent for the required bond financing that is scheduled to close on or around Jan. 15, 2026.
2. Two Lawton, Okla.-based hospitals — Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center — officially merged Dec. 2 to form Memorial Health System of Southwest Oklahoma, marking the completion of a major regional health system combination.
The merger was first approved in September by Comanche County Memorial Hospital’s board of directors and the Comanche County commissioners. Leaders said the combination will expand capacity to meet increasing demand, improve access to specialty services and streamline operations for greater efficiency.
Together, the new system comprises 464 licensed beds: 265 at Comanche County Memorial and 199 at Southwestern Medical Center. Leadership also plans to invest in facility updates and new equipment as part of the transition.
3. A lease between Tulsa, Okla.-based Saint Francis Health System and Bristow (Okla.) Hospital Authority was approved by the Bristow City Council.
Under the transition, Saint Francis will take over Bristow-based Carrus Lakeside Hospital in February 2026 to ensure continued healthcare access in the area. The hospital will also change its name to Saint Francis Bristow in February.
4. Estes Park (Colo.) Health officially joined Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth Dec. 1 as UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center.
Under the partnership, a new board of directors will oversee responsibilities at the nonprofit hospital, including patient quality and safety, medical staff credentialing and recommending EVMC’s budgeting to the UCHealth board of directors. UCHealth will also dedicate at least $20 million for routine maintenance and capital projects at EVMC over the next 10 years and assume $10 million of the facility’s long-term debt.
