Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health has called off its planned $320 million acquisition of two North Carolina hospitals from Community Health Systems after an appellate court granted the Federal Trade Commission an emergency injunction blocking the deal. 

Financially stronger health systems are hesitant about acquiring weaker hospitals or systems, an M&A trend that is expected to continue as organizations continue financial turnarounds and work to steadily improve their operating margins after a financially challenging period, according to a recent report from ratings agency S&P Global. 

Coos Bay, Ore.-based Bay Area Hospital is making progress on its financial turnaround and is exploring potential opportunities to partner with or become part of a larger health system.

The University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services, both based in Minneapolis, are working through new agreements to bring facilities shared between the two parties under the University of Minnesota's wing.

The first quarter of 2024 marked the strongest merger and acquisition activity among hospitals and health systems since 2020. For-profit systems, in particular, are making a lot of moves in the hospital market and Dallas-based Steward Health Care recently received the green light to auction off its 31 hospitals in June and July.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is exploring all options for Boots, including a potential spinoff, Bloomberg reported June 7.

Three for-profit hospitals owned by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems and King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services could soon be changing hands. 

The board overseeing Hollister, Calif.-based Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital voted to move negotiations forward with a potential private buyer of the hospital, NBC affiliate KSBW reported June 6. 

Montgomery, Ala.-based Jackson Hospital's board has voted to approve and recommend to its corporate members an affiliation agreement with HumanityCorp, a private equity company that has partnerships with multiple hospitals and health systems across the U.S., the hospital said in a June 6 news release shared with Becker's.

Shannon Medical Center in San Angelo, Texas, has signed an agreement to acquire River Crest Hospital, an 80-bed behavioral health facility from King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services.

Trinity Health has signed a purchase agreement with Wildwood, Mo.-based Catholic Healthcare International to sell its legacy hospital Trinity Health Livingston in Howell, Mich.

Washington (Pa.) Health System has joined with Pittsburgh-based UPMC to become UPMC Washington and UPMC Greene. 

Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy Health have signed a binding, definitive agreement to unite as one health system under OHSU Health.

Pittsburgh-based UPMC and Washington (Pa.) Health System have reached an agreement with Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry to preserve affordable healthcare access in the area after UPMC and WHS filed a letter of intent to affiliate last June. 

The board for Desert Healthcare District and Foundation voted May 28 to move forward with Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare's proposal for a 30-year lease for the 387-bed Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Calif., the Desert Sun reported.

Bowling Green, Ky.-based Med Center Health will acquire Logan Memorial Hospital, effective July 1, the health system said in a May 29 news release.

The New Jersey Superior Court on May 28 approved Cape Regional Health System and Cooper University Health Care's plan to merge.  

Daniel Morrisette, CFO of Chicago-based CommonSpirit, said he doesn't expect the health system to purchase Dallas-based Steward Health Care's Arizona assets, but said they are evaluating potential opportunities. 

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont met with the CEOs of Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health and Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings in an effort to get a proposed 3-hospital deal back on track and out of the courtroom, The Trumbull Times reported May 23. 

Stayton, Ore.-based Santiam Hospitals and Clinics have signed a nonbinding letter of intent with Corvallis, Ore.-based Samaritan Health Services to merge.