2014 brought 95 hospital transactions, making it the third consecutive year in which at least 95 hospital transactions were announced, according to a new analysis from Kaufman, Hall & Associates.
Last year marks a slight dip from the 98 deals announced in 2013, but a 44 percent increase from the 66 announced in 2010. Of the 95 transactions between acute-care hospitals, 80 involved acquisition of nonprofit organizations and 15 involved acquisition of for-profits.
In general, mergers and acquisitions announced in 2014 were larger, more flexible and less traditional than those from years past, according to the report.
"We are seeing more transactions designed to form large, fully integrated health systems, as well as more partnerships being explored between strong community hospitals and small health systems," said Patrick Allen, Managing Director, Kaufman Hall. "We are also seeing more innovative types of partnership arrangements and more cases in which traditional lines of organizational types — hospitals, insurers and physician organizations — are being blurred."