Annual hospital merger transaction activity sunk to the lowest level in more than a decade, Modern Healthcare reports, citing a new report. Announced deals dropped to 71 in 2021, the lowest mark since 2009 and the fourth consecutive annual decline, according to the healthcare advisory firm Ponder & Co. The COVID-19 pandemic’s disruption paused many planned transactions, as relief funding and reimbursement cut delays allowed many health systems to hold steady, experts said.While hospital executives are still probing potential deals, M&A volumes may not rebound until 2023, said Eb LeMaster, managing director at Ponder. Boosting outpatient networks has been a higher priority, he said. Read more.
Health Systems Eye Outpatient Sector as Hospital M&A Continues to Slump
