The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department have ramped up antitrust enforcement against mergers and acquisitions across various industries, including healthcare, since Lina Khan, 34, was appointed FTC chair, a position she will hold until Sept. 25, 2024. 

It was a busy year for health system transactions, as organizations — 18 in the third quarter alone — joined forces to weather financial challenges. 

The Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department filed 50 merger enforcement actions in fiscal year 2022 — the highest level of enforcement activity in more than 20 years. 

The year is coming to a close, but not without one last flurry of healthcare mergers and acquisition news, including two major announcements made Dec. 19. 

After years of collaboration, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego and Orange, Calif.-based Children's Hospital of Orange County plan to merge and form a single parent entity called Rady Children's Health. 

Milford (Mass.) Regional Medical Center and Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health are aiming to have their new affiliation completed by fall 2024, Milford Daily News reported Dec. 18.

The number of hospital mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations or partnerships that were unwound or abandoned in 2023 sits in the double digits. 

Milwaukee-based Froedtert and Neenah, Wis.-based ThedaCare have finalized their merger agreement and will launch as a combined 18-hospital system Jan. 1. 

Pennsylvania health systems Jefferson and Lehigh Valley Health Network have signed a non-binding letter of intent to combine.

The Centurion Foundation's plan to buy CharterCare Health Partners from Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings, a 16-hospital system, is now being reviewed by the Rhode Island attorney general and state department of health. 

Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare on Dec. 11 completed the $200 million sale of Alvarado Hospital Medical Center to UC San Diego Health. 

Missouri and Kansas lawmakers are expressing concerns about a proposed partnership between University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City (Kan.) and Liberty (Mo.) Hospital, the Kansas Reflector reported Dec. 11. 

Illinois is gearing up to increase its oversight of proposed healthcare facility mergers and acquisitions. 

As a $10 billion merger nears completion in Missouri, one of the state's rural health systems is donning its armor, according to a Dec. 4 interview on 93.9 The Eagle. 

Elkins, W.Va.-based Davis Health, a three-hospital system, has officially joined Vandalia Health, local news outlet WBOY reported Dec. 4.

Three of the largest for-profit health systems entered into multiple transactions this year as part of strategic plans to bolster their hospital portfolios, offload certain facilities or explore ways to expand their reach.

Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Health is the new sole owner of Velocity Urgent Care, marking the end of the health system's joint venture relationship for the 17-site company. 

The last week of November was a busy one for hospital and health system mergers and acquisitions. 

HCA Houston Healthcare, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, has completed the purchase of 11 Houston-area freestanding emergency departments from SignatureCare Emergency Center.

In 2017, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems extended its divestiture plan to help control its losses and debt. After just divesting from one hospital in 2022, the health system had a busy 2023.