Morgantown, W.Va.-based WVU Health System announced plans 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, according to a Nov. 19 news release. They will operate under the WVU Medicine brand.
The transaction is subject to customary state and federal regulatory reviews as well as bondholder consent.
As part of the agreement, WVU Health System will commit $800 million over the next five years to modernize Independence’s hospitals, including the Butler (Pa.) Memorial Hospital’s emergency room and Greensburg-based Westmoreland Hospital’s campus. The funds will also go toward growing clinical services and expanding access to high quality care.
WVU said the integration will strengthen financial stability through shared capital resourcing and efficient operations. The merger will also enhance patient outcomes through coordinated population health strategies via Peak Health, the system’s affiliated health insurance organization.
Independence Health System formed in January 2023 through the merger of Butler Health System and Greensburg-based Excela Health. The system serves a population base of more than 750,000 people in western Pennsylvania. It employs 7,000 people and has a network of more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers.
“WVU Medicine has clearly demonstrated to us that they are committed to high-quality community health, with services available and accessible locally,” Independence Health Board Chair Paul Bacharach said in the release. “Our vote to proceed with WVU Medicine reflects our strong belief that this affiliation honors our legacy and positions our hospitals for innovation, stability, and growth.”
WVU Medicine currently operates 25 hospitals and has 35,000 employees.
