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Nashville-Based HCA Healthcare To Invest $5.3 Billion To Help Build Market Share

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Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare may be coy about giving guidance for 2024 but it has big plans for the next few years as it seeks to build its market share to 29% by 2030.

To help do that, the 183-hospital system is investing $5.3 billion in already approved projects. That figure came out of the company’s investor day Nov. 9.

Included in the $5.3 billion figure, HCA has 62 approved outpatient projects to build freestanding emergency centers and ASCs, totaling $1 billion, and has an additional 200 projects under consideration. HCA is aiming to grow its freestanding ER footprint by 36% over the next two years.

In addition to those investments, the for-profit system expects to drive growth through cost savings and improved benchmarking where facilities can share best practices to improve outcomes and reduce variable costs.

“All in all, management expects $600 million to $800 million of savings over the next five years,” Ben Hendrix, analyst at RBC, said in a research note. “Those savings can help HCA drive EBITDA growth toward the higher end of its targeted 4% to 6% over the next few years.”

HCA is also investing heavily to address labor shortages, building its Galen College of Nursing from five to 20 campuses, according to the research note. An additional 10 campuses are expected to open by 2026, increasing nursing enrollment from 13,000 to 29,000.

HCA, which reported operating income of $1.63 billion for the third quarter on revenue of $16.2 billion, expects its targeted EBITDA growth of the next few years will be met in 2024.

“While our planning process for 2024 is not complete, we currently believe that our 2024 expectations will fall within the targeted ranges above,” HCA CEO Sam Hazen said in a statement ahead of its investor day.

 

Source: Becker’s Hospital Review

Five Healthcare Merger And Acquisition Trends Ambulatory Surgery Centers Should Know

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Mergers, acquisitions and consolidation are a pivotal part of healthcare operations, particularly at Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).

It can be helpful for independent practices to be aware of trends to compete with ASCs backed by private equity firms and large health systems and to stay up to date with where investors are interested.

Here are emerging trends in healthcare merger and acquisition activity, as laid out in an article by Ankura, a global expert services and advisory firm, and published Oct. 18 in JDSupra:

1. Expanding Outpatient Networks

Reduced cost of care, patient convenience, technology advancement and the pandemic accelerated health system interest in expanding outpatient care offerings. ASCs are experiencing an increase in demand and thus are increasingly attractive to investors.

Big names such as Nashville-based HCA Healthcare and Dallas-based United Surgical Partners International have used acquisitions to expand their outpatient care networks and are producing a growing share of overall company revenue.

2. Rise In Private Equity And Investor Interest

Nontraditional investors such as retail giants, technology companies and private equity firms are expanding their investments into healthcare services. Several physician specialties, including dermatology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, dentistry and ophthalmology, are key targets for private equity.

3. Expansion Of Care Offerings

Many healthcare groups have placed an emphasis on vertical integration — or having a role in various aspects of the care continuum. By acquiring groups along the care continuum, organizations can achieve greater coordination, improved patient outcomes and cost efficiencies.

4. Increased Use Of Digital Health Technology

Healthcare companies have been acquiring digital health startups and technology companies to accelerate innovation, increase operational efficiency and expand service offerings.

5. Health System Consolidation

Healthcare company mergers continue to play a key role in the industry, such as rural hospitals partnering with larger health systems to continue operations. Despite this, healthcare remains highly fragmented and has the potential to further consolidate, according to the article.

 

Source: Becker’s ASC Review

Bon Secours Mercy Health To Develop 30+ Ambulatory Surgery Centers Across Multiple States

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Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health System, a 48-hospital Catholic system, has teamed with Compass Surgical Partners to develop more than 30 ambulatory surgery centers across multiple states, the Triangle Business Journal reported on May 29.

Bon Secours Mercy Health is the latest system to form a strategic partnership to expand their outpatient presence and develop ASCs. Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health and Columbus-based OhioHealth recently inked similar deals with Nashville, Tenn.-based Surgery Partners — one of the largest ASC chains in the U.S.

“Our view, over time, is that more complex procedures will come out of the hospitals,” Sean Rambo, president of Compass, told the publication. “Health systems are wanting to catch up and use this strategy to expand outside of hospital walls.”

Compass will work with Bon Secours Mercy Health of Ohio to develop the ASCs over the next few years throughout the system’s footprint, which includes Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New York and Florida, according to the report. The network could expand into other states, such as North Carolina.

“Providing quality outpatient surgical care is an important investment for the communities we serve, enabling us to expand access to care for patients in a way that is accessible and appropriate for their individual care needs,” Bon Secours Mercy Health COO Don Kline said in a news release. “Compass Surgical Partners’ expertise in creating patient-centered ambulatory surgical centers, coupled with their successful track record of leadership in this important space, makes them an ideal partner for this long-term initiative.”

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

 

Source: Becker’s Hospital Review