Advocacy Issue: Mergers and Acquisitions

One of the most important tools that hospitals can use to increase access and quality of care and manage risk and financial pressures are mergers and acquisitions. A range of partnerships, mergers and acquisitions enable hospitals to expand service offerings, broaden networks and access to specialists, improve quality and better serve patients where they live. They provide scale to help reduce costs associated with obtaining medical services and supplies or prescription drugs, and enable health systems to reduce other operational expenses.

AHA Position

Hospitals and health systems have faced historic challenges in the last several years. They will need continued flexibility to seek strategic opportunities and partners as they work to recover from the pandemic, overcome massive increases in the cost of caring, adjust to changing patient and community demographics, adopt new care delivery and payment models, and innovate for the future.