Signed and Scrubbed: June 2025 hospital M&A

Welcome back to Signed and Scrubbed, a monthly roundup of hospital deals, developments, and bankruptcies.

This month, Emory Healthcare in Atlanta made a big acquisition, and St. Louis-based Ascension is reportedly looking to grow its ambulatory surgery network.

We compiled noteworthy provider news from June. Here’s the rundown.

Cherokee Nation. Leaders from the Cherokee Nation announced on June 10 a $255.5 million plan to build a new hospital in Claremore, Oklahoma. The new facility would replace 46-bed Claremore Indian Hospital, a hospital built in 1978.

Emory Healthcare and Houston Healthcare. On June 1, Houston Healthcare based in Warner Robins, Georgia, became part of Atlanta’s Emory Healthcare. Houston Healthcare has two hospitals and a total 282 beds as well as five outpatient facilities and seven physician practices, according to a press release. It has 2,500 employees, 200 physicians, and cares for 300,000+ patients each year.

OSF HealthCare. OSF HealthCare, based in Peoria, Illinois, announced on June 5 plans to consolidate 210-bed Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana and 174-bed Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville into one hospital located across two campuses.

Pender Community Hospital and Bryan Health. On June 9, 21-bed Pender Community Hospital in Nebraska announced its board of directors voted to sign an affiliation agreement with nonprofit system Lincoln-based Bryan Health for added training and leadership and staff support.

Santiam Hospital and Clinics and Samaritan Health Services. Oregon-based Santiam Hospital and Clinics and Samaritan Health Service announced May 29 they would call off a planned merger, though the reason behind the decision is unclear. The hospitals had signed a letter of intent to merge in May 2024 and a definitive agreement to affiliate in October.

Ascension and AmSurg. St. Louis, Missouri-based health system Ascension is looking to acquire Nashville, Tennessee-based ambulatory surgery company AmSurg in a deal worth $3.9 billion, Bloomberg reported. AmSurg, which has 250 surgery centers nationwide, is currently owned by venture capital firms including Pacific Investment Management, King Street Capital Management, and Partners Group.

TriHealth. On June 16, Cincinnati-based TriHealth announced it signed an agreement to acquire 140-bed Clinton Memorial Hospital based in Wilmington, Ohio. If finalized, it would become the sixth acute care hospital in TriHealth’s portfolio.

University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Jackson, Mississippi-based UMMC announced June 9 that it finalized its acquisition of Canton-based Merit Health Madison, a 67-bed facility, on May 1. The hospital is now called UMMC Madison.