OhioHealth is advancing plans to acquire its 17th hospital, and WVU Health System announced a deal that would grow its system to 30 hospitals.
Here are two hospital M&A moves that Becker’s reported during the week of Nov.17:
1. Columbus, Ohio-based OhioHealth is moving forward with plans to acquire Lancaster, Ohio-based Fairfield Medical Center, which would be its 17th acute-care hospital.
In September, the board of directors from both health systems agreed to advance the process, potentially making Fairfield Medical Center a full member of OhioHealth, pending necessary government filings and closing conditions. The two organizations signed a nonbinding agreement in fall 2024 to begin discussions about a formal partnership.
2. Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Health System announced plans Nov. 19 to acquire Greensburg, Pa.-based Independence Health System.
Under the terms of the deal that is expected to close in fall 2026, WVU Medicine will acquire Independence’s five hospitals along with their affiliated physician groups and other subsidiaries. They will operate under the WVU Medicine brand. WVU Health System will commit $800 million over the next five years to modernize Independence’s hospitals.
Becker’s spoke with WVU Health System president and CEO Albert Wright Jr., PharmD, and CFO Nick Barcellona to discuss their vision for the acquisition, the system’s investment plans, and what the integration will mean for patients and employees.
