Transactions & Valuation Issues

Chicago-based Cook County Health & Hospitals System is buying a significant portion of Family Health Network's Medicaid business in Illinois, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

Indianapolis-based Anthem inked an agreement to acquire HealthSun, a Medicare Advantage health plan in Coconut Grove, Fla.

  The boards of Edgefield (S.C.) County Hospital and Greenwood, S.C.-based Self Regional Healthcare agreed to further the institutions' existing two-year partnership through an affiliation Sept. 19, according to the Index-Journal.

Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, granted Kingsport, Tenn.-based Wellmont Health System and Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance's request for a certificate of public advantage Sept. 19.

Allentown, Pa.-based Sacred Heart HealthCare System, parent company of Allentown-based Sacred Heart Hospital, revealed plans to merge with St. Luke's University Health Network, a seven-hospital system in Bethlehem, Pa., Sept. 19.

Louisburg, N.C.-based Franklin Medical Center will reopen as a freestanding emergency department in 2018 after the Franklin County Board of Commissioners reached a lease agreement with Brentwood, Tenn.-based Duke LifePoint, according to WRAL.

Prestonsburg, Ky.-based Highlands Health System and Lexington, Ky.-based Appalachian Regional Healthcare have signed a letter of intent to merge.

Englewood, Colo.-based Catholic Health Initiatives officials said the health system is conducting the final stages of the due diligence process to align with San Francisco-based Dignity Health.

The Federal Trade Commission approved the amended merger agreement between Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance and Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid Sept. 19 after nearly two years of negotiations.

Fulton (Mo.) Medical Center will no longer close after scoring a buyer less than one week before it was slated to shut down, according to the Columbia Daily Tribune.